Ganymede. She was purported to be the daughter of Saturn and Ops, and the sibling of Jupiter, Neptune, Juno, Ceres, and … Entry to her temple was permitted only to her priestesses, the Vestals, who tended the sacred fire at the hearth in her temple. The Vestal Virgins kept the sacred fire burning in her temple and tended to her hearth in gratitude for her charity and care of the people. His twin brother was Remus. The College of the Vestals was regarded as fundamental to the continuance and security of Rome. Gill is a Latinist, writer, and teacher of ancient history and Latin. According to "Burial customs and the pollution of death in ancient Rome: procedures and paradoxes," by Francois Retief and Louise P. Cilliers, it was required that people be buried outside the city (beyond the Pomoerium) except for a privileged few that included the vestals. They prepared the mola salsa that was used in all state sacrifices. They were far and away the most privileged women in Roman society, and in fact they were the only women who […] Most Vestal Virgins preferred to remain single after retirement. They were drawn from the patrician class and had to observe absolute chastity for thirt… "The 'Vestal Virgins' in Rome were priestesses of Vesta, who was the Roman goddess of the hearth," he says. A Vestal Virgin. Sacred Fire of Rome and Greece . Should a Vestal be unchaste, her brutal ritual sacrifice would punish not only her but whatever might be polluting Rome. Vesta - Roman Virgin Goddess of Home and ... - Mythology.net Girls from the ages of 6 to 10, originally from patrician, and later, from any freeborn family, were eligible to become Vestals (sacerdotes Vestales). Romulus was the son of Rhea Silvia (a Vestal Virgin and the daughter of King Numitor of Alba Longa) and Mars, the Roman god of war. The goddess of the hearth and home, Vesta was a Roman deity that symbolized faith, family, and domestic order. They were the guardians of the public hearth at the Atrium Vesta. She was virgin by choice. See more ideas about Vestal virgin, Vestal, Ancient rome. The Vestals made holy cakes (mola salsa) for the Vestalia, according to ritual prescriptions, from special salt, water, and grain. They were disbanded in 394 CE by the Christian emperor Theodosius I who also prohibited the worship of Vesta along with the other gods of the pagans and closed the schools and temples. They may have originally represented the daughters of the chief/priest, according to William Warde Fowler in The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (1899). Vesta And Her Six Vestal Virgins – Highly Venerated Goddess Of Hearth And Family AncientPages.com | December 24, 2019 | Featured Stories , Myths & Legends , News , Roman Mythology A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - In ancient Roman beliefs, Vesta (the equivalent of the Greeks' Hestia) was the goddess of the fire, home, and family. Heracles. Jun 15, 2016 - Related post: Last-minute Vestal Virgin (a pile of sheets and some yarn, basically) The Vestal Virgins were the six priestesses who tended the sacred flame of Vesta, goddess of the hearth, in ancient Rome. Hestia, the goddess of the hearth, tended to the fire in Zeus’s home. She killed one guy who spied on her, and accidently Orion, having been tricked into thinking either he was a theif or he had raped one of her vestal virgins (another note: A great many virgins involved in temples). NEXT> 3. Koptev says that an ancient grammarian, Festus says the six Vestals represented a division into three primary and three secondary Vestals, one of each for each tribe. She is one of the priestesses known as the Vestal Virgins, who had the important job of guarding the sacred hearth of the city in their temple in the Roman Forum. Sep 25, 2016 - Explore Magistra Michaud's board "Vestal Virgins", followed by 1039 people on Pinterest. The Vestals' collective virginity may have been a form of binding magic preserving the safety of Rome. One cannot forget the Vestal Virgins who had no Greek counterpart. Vestal Virgins, who were plucked from upper-class families at a young age, were expected to spend three decades of their lives serving the virgin goddess of the hearth and home, Vesta. They were a strictly female (Fantham et al. "In fact, the names Vesta and Hestia come from the same ancient root, dating back to a time when Greek and Latin were more or less dialects of the same now-lost mother language (which we call 'Indo-European' today). The Vestals were some of the few full-time clerics in the Roman religion. On the last day of the festival, the temple was ritually cleansed. The ashes of the unborn calves were kept by the Vestal Virgins till the feast of the Parilia(seePALES), when they were used for the purpose of purification. Breaking the vow of celibacy was punished by burying the offending priestess alive, outside the city of Rome. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. It was also forbidden to shed the blood of a Vestal. Hence the cultivation of the sacred fire that was not allowed to go out. See more ideas about Vestal, Vestal virgin, Goddess of the hearth. READ NEXT: The Gigantes: The Giants of Greek Mythology. They prepared the mola salsa that was used in all state sacrifices. They tended to the sacred fire of Vesta and had many rights and privileges, such as being carried in a palanquin (which had a right of way), being able to pardon criminals/slaves, the right to own property and vote, being able to give evidence without an oath and a reserved seat at games and performances. It was from this that the Vestales were named the Vestal virgins. They wore distinctive dress and probably seni crines, the hairstyle of a Roman bride. They could not show excessive care of their person, and they were not allowed to let the fire go out. 1994, 225) religious cult devoted to the maiden goddess Vesta, goddess of the hearth. Marble head of a Vestal Virgin. Those who broke their vows were punished harshly.Those who failed to attend the sacred fire were scourged. However, which of these was Hera's child by Zeus? For some offenses, a Vestal might be whipped, but if the sacred fire went out, it proved a Vestal was impure. May 24, 2018 - The Vestal Virgins were Roman maidens tasked with maintaining the sacred flame of the goddess Vesta. This was an important role, but Hestia was almost absent in Greek mythology and art. The Vestals also kept wills and participated in ceremonies. The Vestals weren't the only priestly office Numa Pompilius instituted. Her temple in Ancient Rome was guarded by a group of women called the Vestal Virgins. This first Vestal may have been taken by the second of 7 kings of Rome Numa Pomilius (or, possibly, Romulus, the first king and founder of Rome), according to the 2nd century A.D. Roman antiquarian Aulus Gellius (A.D. 123-170). In ancient Roman religion, the Vestals or Vestal Virgins, were priestesses of Vesta, goddess of the hearth. Answer: ( One Word (Greek Name)) NEXT> 2. Their term as priestesses of the goddess Vesta was 30 years, after which they were free to leave and marry. But this 2nd-century AD head shows one of those who did. According to Plutarch, in his life of Numa, there were originally two Vestals, and then 2 pairs under Servius Tullius named Gegania and Verenia, Cannulae and Tarpeia, representing the Romans and the Sabines. In this position, the virgin goddess became the keeper of the hearth. From "Why Were The Vestals Virgins? After her descent, the steps were removed and dirt heaped on the entrance to the room. It was the Pontifex' task to administer their punishment. From those offered, the selections were made by lot. Romulus' mother, Rhea Silvia, was forced to become a Vestal Virgin (a chaste priestess of the Roman goddess Vesta) by her uncle, Amulius. A third pair was formed when a third tribe was added to Rome. . Hence the cultivation of the sacred fire that was not allowed to go out. Special privileges were granted the Vestal Virgins. One of the best known Vestales was Rhea Silvia, who broke her vows and conceived twins Romulus and Remus with the god Mars. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our, Control Over and Punishment of the Vestal Virgins, Romulus - Roman Mythology About the Founding and First King of Rome, An Overivew of Buildings in the Roman Forum, The Murderous Cult of Roman Diana and Her Sword-Wielding Priests, Roman Execution by Hurling From the Tarpeian Rock, Comparing and Contrasting Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, "Burial customs and the pollution of death in ancient Rome: procedures and paradoxes,", M.A., Linguistics, University of Minnesota. The first Vestal was taken from her parents "as though she had been captured in war," and led by the hand. Like their goddess, one of their primary tasks was to ensure that the fires of the temple never went out. Surviving statuary shows her as a sedate Roman matron with a cornucopia and a snake. The last known chief Vestal (vestalis maxima) was Coelia Concordia in A.D. 380. The practice ended in 394. Hera remained faithful to her faithless husband. The Vestals' chief function was the preservation of an undying fire (ignis inextinctus) in the shrine of Vesta, goddess of the hearth, but they had other functions as well. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. July 15, 2019 Cultural Heritage / featured / Greek Mythology / Hestia / History / Roman Empire / Roman Mythology / Sacred / Vesta / Vestal. It burned until 391, when the Emperor Theodosius I forbade public pagan worship. According to legend, Romulus would eventually kill Remus and found the city of Rome. Should a Vestal become ill, she must be tended by a married woman outside the sacred area (aedes Vesta), according to Holt N. Parker, citing Pliny 7.19.1. Posted by Magical Europe. Modern audiences are probably most familiar with Vesta through her priestesses, the Vestal Virgins. The Roman goddess Vesta is the virgin goddess of the hearth, home, and family. The College of the Vestals was regarded as fundamental to the continuance and security of Rome. The Vestal Virgins lived together in a house near the Forum Atrium Vestae), supervised by the Pontifex Maximus. Roman, 2nd century AD. The Vestal Virgins, or Vestals, were Roman women dedicated to the service of Vesta (Greek: Hestia). These daughters of Rome took vows of purity and loyalty, and lived holy lives in order to better serve their deity. As was Athena, who didn't even kill the guy who spied on her. It has been thought that the Vestal Virgins wore their hair in the seni crines style of brides where the six parts to be braided and piled up were separated by a spear. As long as it remained intact, Rome would remain safe. The Vestales were one of the few full-time clergy positions in Roman religion. Who is this goddess? She has been featured by NPR and National Geographic for her ancient history expertise. A Vestal who lost her virginity was buried alive in the Campus Sceleratus (near the Colline gate) amid solemn ritual. Start studying Religion and the City: Temples. The dedication ceremony of a Vestal Virgin. The reasons behind the virginal status of the Vestals have been scrutinized by classicists and anthropologists. Every March 1 the fire was renewed. Hebe. On May 15, the Vestals threw straw figurines (Argei) into the Tiber. Zeus had affairs with many other people, and had many children. He has a twin brother. Very few women had a powerful, public role anywhere in the ancient world. See more ideas about Vestal virgin, Vestal, Goddess. Any sexual relations with citizens was deemed incestuous in nature. Vestal Virgins were priestesses who vowed abstinence for 30 years to focus on tending to the sacred fire at the Temple of Vesta. Since Romulus is credited with creating the three tribes this is problematic. May 24, 2019 - Explore Seulete's board "Vestal", followed by 68771 people on Pinterest. There she was left to die. There were four to six Vestal Virgins who tended the fire, as well as sought over rituals and protected sacred objects. One of the Vestales mentioned in mythology was Rhea Silvia, who with the god Marsconceived Romulus and Remus. Her impurity threatened the safety of Rome. Athena. In ancient Roman religion, the Vestals or Vestal Virgins, were priestesses of Vesta, goddess of the hearth. In exchange for a commitment of 30 years (10 in training, 10 in service, and 10 training others) and a vow of chastity, Vestals were emancipated, and so, free to administer their own affairs without a guardian (that is, they were free of their father's potestas), given honor, the right to make a will, luxurious accommodations at state expense, and when they went out lictors carrying rods proceeded them. The Vestales, or Vestal Virgins, guarded a sacred flame at the temple, and swore thirty-year vows of chastity. Besides aristocratic birth, vestals had to meet certain criteria assuring their perfection, including being free of bodily imperfection and having living parents. They lived in the House of the Vestal Virgins on the Roman Forum, near the Temple of Vesta. Roman law forbade the burial of persons inside the city, but ancient traditions decreed that the Vestal should be buried inside the city limits. Vesta's (in some versions she is called Vestia) fire was guarded at her Temples by her priestesses, the Vestales. Personal dedications to her are attested among all classes, especially plebeians, freedmen and women, and slaves. From Good Goddess to Vestal Virgins argues that the ritual roles played out by women were vital in defining them sexually and that these sexually defined categories spilled over into other aspects of Roman culture, including political activity. In both the home and the city, she was at the center of daily life and all sacrifices were made through her. Besides … Before that, they had to maintain chastity or face a frightening death. The Vestal Virgins were venerated priestesses of Vesta, the Roman goddess of the hearth fire (full title: Vesta publica populi Romani Quiritium), and the guardians of the luck of Rome who could intervene on behalf of those in trouble. Originally, there were 2, then 4 (in Plutarch's time), and then 6 Vestal Virgins. The Vestal Virgins, or Vestals, were Roman women dedicated to the service of Vesta (Greek: Hestia). Often known simply as Mater, or “Mother,” Vesta was recognized as the purest of Roman deities.An eternal virgin, Vesta inspired her priestesses, known as the Vestales (or Vestal Virgins), to adhere to a strict code of celibacy. They were proceeded by lictors, who carried the rods and ax that could be used to inflict punishments on the people, if necessary. Zeus' wife was Hera. Rhea Silva, the mother of Romulus and Remus, was a Vestal. Those chosen as Vestal Virgins had to be of the required age, be freeborn of freeborn and respectable parents (though later the daughters of freedmen were eligible), have both parents alive, and be free from physical and mental defects. At the beginning of the June Vestalia festival, the inner sanctum (penus) of the circular shrine to Vesta, in the forum Romanum, was opened for women to bring offerings; otherwise, it was closed to all but the Vestals and the Pontifex Maximus. Some public rituals could be conducted only by women, and women formed what is perhaps Rome's most famous priesthood, the state-supported Vestals, who tended Rome's sacred hearth for centuries, until disbanded under Christian domination. The Vestal was brought to steps leading down to a room with food, a bed, and a lamp. The Vestal Virgins were venerated priestesses of Vesta, the Roman goddess of the hearth fire (full title: Vesta publica populi Romani Quiritium), and the guardians of the luck of Rome who could intervene on behalf of those in trouble. Here we have Hypnos, the god of Sleep. By tending what was supposed to be an eternal flame in Vesta's temple, they were symbolically tending to the hearth of all of Rome. Their body was sacrosanct: harming or injuring them physically was punishable by death.Vestal virgins were sworn to celibacy, after they took their vows, they passed from the protection of their father to the protection of the state, and were thus considered daughters of the state. They were girls chosen only from the patrician class at the tender age of six, beginning their service to the goddess Vesta at the age of ten and for the next thirty years they would serve her. https://mythology.wikia.org/wiki/Vestal_Virgins?oldid=37619. 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