What were the duties of the Vestal Virgins?

What were the duties of the Vestal Virgins?

Vestal virgins were women priestesses to the goddess of Hearth, Vesta, in Ancient Rome. The main duty they must perform was to guard the fire of Vesta. With this they would be endowed with many honors and rights that a normal female would not have at that time.

What is the vestal virgins in ancient Rome?

Rome’s Vestal Virgins: protectors of the city’s sacred flame Chosen as young girls, the priestesses of Vesta, goddess of the hearth, swore a 30-year vow of chastity and in turn were granted rights, privileges, and power unavailable to other women in Rome.

What purpose did the Temple of Vesta serve in Roman society and who were the Vestal Virgins?

The temple was dedicated to the goddess Vesta, the virgin goddess of hearth, home, and family and built for the Vestal Virgins to dwell in as they honour their Virgin Goddess.

What would happen if a vestal virgin was raped?

Their most important role was to tend to the flame of Vesta. Vestal virgins took a vow of chastity, which lasted for their full term of office, 30 years. A Vestal who broke this vow was punished by being buried alive. The man who violated her was sentenced to death by whipping.

What did the Vestal Virgins eat?

If the flame went out, the vestal(s) who were in charge of it would be killed. This meant that they couldn’t eat any- thing that had been baked; they ate mostly fruits and vegetables and Aliter Dulcia, which was dough fried in olive oil. They could eat no meat.

Did Vestal Virgins vote?

Vestal virgins were chosen from highborn families and were granted privileges that would have been unimaginable for other women in Ancient Rome. They could own property, vote, and write a will. They had the best seats at public games, and they even had the power to free condemned prisoners and slaves.

How long did the Vestal Virgins last?

30 years
Chosen between the ages of 6 and 10 by the pontifex maximus (“chief priest”), Vestal Virgins served for 30 years, during which time they had to remain virgins.

Why were Vestal Virgins killed?

If a Vestal Virgin had sex and thus broke her vow of chastity, the Romans would execute her. But, according to the Roman law, the punishment for hurting or killing a Vestal Virgin, was death. To get around this law, the Romans devised one of the cruelest ways to die — to bury a person alive.

Do Vestal Virgins still exist?

Vestal virgins were chosen from highborn families and were granted privileges that would have been unimaginable for other women in Ancient Rome. But despite the powers and privileges granted to the Vestal Virgins, they were still living in a patriarchal society that controlled all aspects of their lives.

What did the vestal virgins eat?

Can Vestal Virgins marry?

Chosen between the ages of 6 and 10 by the pontifex maximus (“chief priest”), Vestal Virgins served for 30 years, during which time they had to remain virgins. Afterward they could marry, but few did.