why were vestal virgins important

Her sanctuary was traditionally a circular building, in imitation of the early Italian round hut and symbolic of the public hearth. To be chosen a Vestal Virgin … This website dedicated to discovering the ancient Mediterranean history and this site looks at this history from the beginning of writing to 400 B.C. Licinia is afraid, but she has no choice in the matter. At a time when women had few rights and were treated like property, Vestal Virgins were revered. Most of the virgins on record kept their vows, however, and continued through time to honor their goddess Vesta, and the city and people of Rome, until the coming of Christianity. But what was life really like for these Vestal Virgins? The high priest would choose out of a group of girls between the ages of six and ten. Even though they did have to take a vow of chastity, it offered them a life of freedom when they were done with their service. This site would be great for anyone who wants to learn and view by pictures about the Roman mythology, including the life of Vestals. In ancient Rome, the Vestals or Vestal Virgins (Latin: Vestālēs, singular Vestālis [wɛsˈtaːlɪs]) were priestesses of Vesta, goddess of the hearth. Whatever they said was considered truth. A sacred place . And because they had such important work, they were freed from domestic distractions such as cooking and laundry. Their duties included keeping a sacred flame eternally burning, presiding over many religious ceremonies, and never having sex with anyone. There were three stages of the Vestal Virgins, starting at the age of between 6-10 and only accepting a small group of six members every ten years. Since the vestal virgins were such an important part of Roman society, all of the girls who tried out for the privilege came from aristocratic families. What was Vesta the goddess of? Vesta doesn't have a statue like other Roman gods and goddesses. The hearth. A respected author for Roman Religions, John Scheid is a professor at the College de France. They allowed families including the royal have the use of fire. Vestal Virgins were recruited as children, aged between six and ten. He once he chose the girls, they would leave their father’s house and be ruled by only the high priest and the Vesta, the goddess they devoted their life to. We have also been recommended for educational use by the following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. The Vestal Virgins were very important in the Roman religious scheme of things. Aside from this obvious pitfall of being a Vestal Virgin of Rome, they still had it pretty good. She has written this book that is dedicated to individuals that practice celibacy through out history. A quiz about the Vestal Virgins for Classical Civilisation GCSE ... the ages of 6 and 10. The virgins were chosen between the ages of six and ten years old by the chief priest and had to serve for 30 years (during which time they, of course, had to remain chaste). But why keep virgins for that? Rome. The page which is dedicated to the history vestals gives much information including the Goddess Vesta, the roles, rules, punishments, freedoms of a virgin vestal. The Vestal Virgins were charged with protecting the sacred fire of the city, which was never allowed to go out. … The Roman writer Plutarch (45-120 CE) notes, "Some are of the opinion that these vestals had no other business than the preservation of [the sacred] fire; but others conceive that they were keepers of other divine secrets, concealed from all but themselves." They were the women, for the most part, who had no say in their vocation as they were chosen for it by the age of six or seven. The Vestal Virgins were the only female priests within the roman religious system, and were responsible for maintaining the sacred fire within the Temple of Vesta … If they broke this vow they were punished by death. Vestal Virgin, British Museumby Carole Raddato (CC BY-SA). Even though they had restriction, these women were free of subservient restrictions to men. The poet Horace (65 - 8 BC) declared that Rome would stand, “ as long as the pontifex climbs the Capitoline beside the silent Virgin. The flame represented two things: the continuation of Rome as a power in the world and the continuing virginity of Vesta's priestesses. This is said to have been because the people of Rome feared Vesta's vengeance. Women that were chosen for this role were of wealth and when they are picked, they are a children. 22 There were three stages of the Vestal Virgins, starting at the age of between 6-10 and only accepting a small group of six members every ten years. From Good Goddess to Vestal Virgins: Sex and Category in Roman She covers information from Roman history about Vestal Virgins to today’s celibate athletes. Matters. This website is good for students that are in search to learn about the history of women in history. Vestal Virgins were the most powerful women in the Roman Empire. Virgins. https://www.ancient.eu/Vestal_Virgin/. They believed that the extinction of the fire would lead to disaste… Vestal virgins were chosen from highborn families and were granted privileges that would have been unimaginable for other women in Ancient Rome. Being a Vestal Virgin was a lifetime committment that required... Who were the Vestal Virgins, and what was their job? Plutarch writes. 10 They Had To Remain Chaste But Not Forever. Vestal Virgins had consequential responsibilities, and membership to this cult was rather exclusive because it demanded extensive commitment and devotion to the goddess and the state. In brief: the primary role of the Vestal Virgin was to be an embodiment of the city and citizenry of Rome.1l I have reached similar conclusions by a 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. He includes how they were formed and their importance in the Roman society. The hearth. Vestal virgins were women priestesses to the goddess of Hearth, Vesta, in Ancient Rome. “Vestal Virgins.” Ancient Routes. Since the vestal virgins were such an important part of Roman society, all of … When she discusses the history of Vestal Virgins, she explains the role of the vestal, but also different persecutions of individual virgins that took place in ancient Rome . They were buried alive in a chamber with only a little bit of food and water to keep them alive for few days longer. #1. The Romans believed it essential that the Vestals were virgins, and this explains why such a slow and painful death awaited any Vestal who forsook her vow of chastity. (18 December 2005). Their duties included keeping a sacred flame eternally burning, presiding over many religious ceremonies, and never having sex with anyone. He goes into further detail that these sexual categories mesh into other Roman culture that includes politics and culture. This source can be great in any university and can also be used as a teaching tool because it covers the different custom and rituals that were performed in Roman history. They tended the sacred fire in the shrine of Vesta in the Roman Forum and performed other rites associated with the goddess such as caring for the sacred objects in the shrine and inner sanctuary, preparing ritual food and officiating at public events during the yearly Vestalia, Vesta’s feast days (June 7-15). Important to my books on Marc Antony, they also kept the wills of important men within their complex, safe and sound. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 02 Sep 2009. Vestal Virgins were recruited as children, aged between six and ten. He has formed a variety of critical research of detailed ceremonies and customs of the many religions throughout the Roman History including the religious roles of vestal virgins. Vestal Virgins had consequential responsibilities, and membership to this cult was rather exclusive because it demanded extensive commitment and devotion to the goddess and the state. He has taught history, writing, literature, and philosophy at the college level. The six-year-old Licinia witnessed the spectacle, never suspecting that a few days later, she’d be chosen as the next Vestal Virgin. The Vestal Virgins were priestesses of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth, and one of their most important functions was the maintenance of the sacred fire within the Temple of Vesta on the Forum Romanum. This online source gives an outline of the events in the book Women’s Life in Greece and Rome . The most important task of a vestal was to keep the sacred fire burning. The virgins were chosen between the ages of six and ten years old by the chief priest and had to serve for 30 years. A woman named Serena, the Christian niece of Theodosius I, is said to have desecrated Vesta's temple by taking the necklace from her statue and claiming it for her own. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Read about the Vestals in BRIDES OF ROME: A NOVEL OF THE VESTAL VIRGINS . Both St. Augustine and Orosius wrote in defense of this very accusation. Keeping the sacred fire lit. Peta Greenfield goes back in time to find out. Aside from possibly Greece’s Oracle of Delphi, the Vestal Virgins devoted to the Roman goddess Vesta, ruler of the Hearth, are the most famous ancient cult in European history. The most important task of a vestal was to keep the sacred fire burning. They spent ten years as novices, being taught their duties; then as adults (starting between ages 16–20) they became full priestesses of the goddess Vesta. Even so, the Vestal Virgins were honored by the community, had most of their needs provided for by temple tithes, and were free of many of the restrictions Roman women had to endure. That’s why the Vestal Virgins of Rome were buried alive if they got caught fooling around – no blood was spilled but they still got their punishment. It is closely associated with status of Roman matron. (18 December 2005). Today, we are looking back, to something more beautiful to cheer you up, to an old Roman tradition, which lasted more than a thousand years (700 BC till 380 AD), the history of the Vestal Virgins, who were in Ancient Roman religion the priestesses of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth (fire place) and home. An Introduction to Roman Religion. Mark, J. J. These women were known as the vestal virgins, or the vestals for short. If a Vestal Virgin failed in her duties, she was severely beaten and the punishment for loss of virginity was being buried alive, though other, worse, punishments were sometimes given such as having molten lead poured down one's throat. Vestals were considered inviolate and were trusted without question in courts of law. They were celebrities. Why does a martyr for Islam get to have 72 of these....why is it that the Muslims get a Catholic as their reward?....sound hillarious to you too?...I don't think they realize it They were the only full-time clergy (collegia) of a Roman deity which attests to the high regard in which the goddess was held. The Vestal Virgins were seen as magical and pure women back in the ancient times of Rome, with their ongoing work to keep the magical flame alight one of the most important duties in the entire land. This book is a good source for young students who are interested in celebrant life throughout history and anyone who is interested in the celibate life of Vestal To keep Vesta's flame burning. Of all the duties that the were bestowed on the Vestal Virgins, by far the most … History of the Vestal Virgins of Rome. During the Vestalia, the Virgins would sweep out the ashes of the fire and use water to purify the temple. Courtesy of the Regional Museum of Archaeology, Palermo. (2001-2004) It was, in fact, because they were so highly regarded that the punishment of breaking their vows was so severe. Girls were chosen at various ages, ranging from 6 to 10 years old. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University press, 2003. 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. Elizabeth Abbott is a Dean of Women at Trinity College in Toronto and she an experienced journalist with a doctrine degree in History. These women are a unique part of history that makes them an important role in the history of women. They could own property, vote, and write a will. The fall of the Roman Empire, it was argued, was caused by the acceptance of Christianity and the neglect of the old gods who had kept the city safe and prosperous for so long. He let the fire out, and forbade any pagan worship. The first ten years they were students, then the following they were in their service to the fire, and the last ten years they were the teachers. By the Imperial period there were 16 pontifices under the high priest, 15 flamines, who were special priests of the main deities, and the Rex Sacrorum (king of the sacrifices) who performed the religious acts that the king had usually done. The institution of vestal Virgins is an essential aspect of Ancient Rome. Vestal Virgins and generally the care and worship of the inextinguish- able fire which they guard, either because he considered the nature of fire to be pure and uncorrupted and so entrusted it to uncontaminated and undefiled bodies or else because he compared its fruitlessness and What was their most important duty? Given that they were so highly regarded and trusted, penalties for wrong-doing on the part of a Vestal were extremely severe. Women played vital roles by participating in roman religious rituals publicly. They had the best seats at public games, and they even had the power to free condemned prisoners and slaves. A freelance writer and former part-time Professor of Philosophy at Marist College, New York, Joshua J. Instead, she's represented by the flame which burns day and night in her temple located next to the Forum in the center of the city. The other reason of punishment is if they allowed for the fire to go out; this was a punishment by death as well, often by whipping. For a thousand years, they attempted to keep Vesta’s sacred fire lit. Once their 30 years of service was completed, they were free to marry, but very few did as it was considered unlucky since they had, essentially, been the brides of Vesta for most of their lives and were consecrated to the goddess. Virgin happened when Emperor Theodosius came into power in A.D. 391 following license: Creative Commons license. 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