Women in the Forum- Spotlight on the Vestal Virgins

Drawing of the Temple of Vesta, By Lauro 

Located prominently in the forum were two buildings related to one of Rome’s most important goddesses, Vesta. Vesta was the Roman goddess of the hearth. The temple of Vesta in the Roman Forum was an extremely important building. In the temple was the sacred flame of Rome that was closely attended to by the priestesses of Vesta, the Vestal Virgins. This flame was said to be tied to the life of Rome itself, and it was said that if the flame were to go out, the city would fall to ruin. It was the job of the Vestals to make sure that the flame always burned. The second important function of the Temple of Vesta was to house the wills of the Emperors.

The house of the Vestal Virgins was located near the Temple of Vesta. The Vestals were some of the most powerful women in Rome because of how important their role of tending to the eternal flame and their various other duties were. It was illegal to injure a vestal virgin, and they had the power to pardon prisoners. Notably, they were not under the control of their fathers like other Romans were and instead could own their own property and otherwise control their own affairs. Vestal Virgins served for thirty years: ten years of apprenticeship, ten years of service, and ten years training other priestesses. During their terms they were required to remain chaste, but after they were released from service they were incredibly sought after as wives due to their wealth and political power. The cult of Vesta was central to Roman religion and thus deserving of its spot in the Forum, and it was one of the most important Roman institutions dominated by women1.

 EH

___________________________________________________________________________________

1.Robin Lorsch Wildfang, Rome's vestal virgins: A study of rome's vestal priestesses in the late republic and early empire (New York:  Routledge, 2006).