Historiae Romanorum

Vestal Virgins

It was the duty of the Vestal Virgins to watch over the hearth in the temple of Vesta.  There were four, later six, and they were chose from the ranks of the patrician class.  In charge of overseeing the Vestals was the Pontifex Maximus, or chief priest of Rome, who chose the priestesses from girls between the ages of six and ten.  Once a priestess, the girls served the goddess for thirty years, but most continued on with their duties for the rest of their lives.

Vestals were highly regarded in Rome, and they could have great sway upon the people and politicians.  It was highly important that they perform their duties properly, and remained virgins.  If a vestal was found to not have remained a virgin, she would be buried alive.  There were several instances of this, the most famous being the rape of Rhea Silvia, who is the mother of Romulus and Remus.

Source(s):

1. Oxford Concise Companion to Classical Literature.  ed.  Howatson and Chilvers.  Oxford.  New York, 1993.

2. Livy.  Ab Urbe Condita.

This page was last updated on July 21, 2004.