The bizarre and fascinating history of the Vestal Virgins and their sacred duties

Numa Pompilius, Rome’s second king, set up the order of Vestal Virgins around the 7th century BCE. 

Their main task was to tend the sacred fire of Vesta, which stood for the city’s hearth and Rome’s continuity.

This fire stood for the city’s hearth and Rome’s continuity. The fire burned in the Temple of Vesta in the Roman Forum. 

Young girls from noble families became Vestals. Upon selection, they took a vow of chastity for at least 30 years. 

Beyond their vow, they could not marry or have children. They performed rituals and offered sacrifices to protect Rome’s safety and success. 

The Vestals lived in the House of the Vestals, close to the Temple of Vesta. 

Within this area, the complex included their living spaces, a garden, and rooms for ceremonies and sacred objects. 

Ordinary citizens could not enter the House of the Vestals except during certain festivals. 

The Vestal Virgins had a unique set of customs and duties that set them apart from other Roman women.

The Vestals had to perform a series of rituals and sacrifices, such as offering cakes and wine to the goddess, and keeping the fire burning day and night.

The Vestal Virgins were responsible for maintaining the sacred fire of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth and home, which represented the eternal flame of Rome.

The ritual involved the daily cleaning and preparation of the temple and the offering of sacred meals to the goddess.

The Vestals were also responsible for conducting several annual festivals, including the Vestalia, which was dedicated to Vesta and involved the purification of the temple and the distribution of sacred objects to the citizens of Rome.

If a Vestal Virgin was found to have broken her vow of chastity, she would be put on trial before the Pontifex Maximus, the chief priest of Rome.

The trial was conducted in a special court and could last for several days.

If found guilty, she was buried alive in the Campus Sceleratus or 'Field of Wickedness' near the city walls, with a small amount of bread, water, and a lamp, to die of starvation or suffocation.

This punishment was considered one of the most severe in Roman society and was reserved only for the most serious crimes.

It was seen as a way of purifying the city and restoring the honor of the goddess Vesta.

The execution of a Vestal Virgin was a rare event, and only a few cases were recorded in Roman history.

However, the threat of punishment was enough to ensure that the Vestals remained faithful to their vows and devoted to their duties as keepers of the sacred flame.

Throughout Roman history, there were several notable Vestal Virgins who became famous for their deeds. One such Vestal was Rhea Silvia.

Legend has it that Rhea Silvia was a Vestal Virgin and the mother of the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus.

According to Roman mythology, Rhea Silvia was the daughter of Numitor, the king of Alba Longa, who was overthrown by his younger brother Amulius.

To prevent Numitor's heirs from seeking revenge, Amulius forced Rhea Silvia to become a Vestal Virgin, which meant she had to take a vow of chastity.

However, Rhea Silvia was impregnated by Mars, the god of war, and gave birth to twin boys, Romulus and Remus.

Amulius ordered the babies to be drowned in the Tiber River, but they were saved by a she-wolf and raised by a shepherd.

Romulus and Remus later grew up to found Rome, with Romulus becoming its first king.

Tuccia was another Vestal Virgin who lived in ancient Rome. According to legend, Tuccia was accused of breaking her vow of chastity and was put to the test by the Pontifex Maximus, the chief priest of Rome.

He ordered Tuccia to carry water from the Tiber River to the Temple of Vesta in a sieve, which was thought to be impossible for anyone who was not a virgin.

Tuccia prayed to Vesta for help and successfully completed the task without spilling a drop of water.

Her innocence was thus proven, and she was acquitted of the charges against her. 

The most famous Vestal was perhaps Claudia Quinta. Claudia Quinta was a Vestal Virgin who lived in ancient Rome during the Second Punic War.

She was accused of unchastity and brought before the Pontifex Maximus for trial.

However, Claudia maintained her innocence and proclaimed that she was a faithful servant of the goddess Vesta and prayed to her for help.

The next day, a ship carrying a statue of the goddess Cybele became stuck in the Tiber River.

Despite the efforts of the crew and the citizens of Rome, the ship refused to budge.

Claudia was then summoned to the river and, with the help of Vesta, was able to move the ship single-handedly.

This miracle was seen as a sign of her innocence, and Claudia was exonerated of all charges. 

The Vestal cult lasted for almost a thousand years, but it eventually came to an end in the 4th century CE, with the rise of Christianity.

As Christianity became the dominant religion in Rome, the Vestals lost their influence and power. Emperor Theodosius I enforced his degree against pagan religions and abolished the Vestal order.

The last recorded Chief Vestal Virgin, Coelia Concordia, was believed to have died in the mid-4th century CE, marking the end of a unique and fascinating era in Roman history.