Vestal Virgins

Vestal Virgins

 in Roman religion, six priestesses, representing the daughters of the royal house, who tended the state cult of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth. The cult is believed to date to the 7th century BC; like other non-Christian cults, it was banned in AD 394 by Theodosius I.

 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. 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. They lived in the House of the Vestal Virgins on the Roman Forum, near the Temple of Vesta. Their duties included tending the perpetual fire in the Temple of Vesta, keeping their vow of chastity, fetching water from a sacred spring (Vesta would have no water from the city water-supply system), preparing ritual food, caring for objects in the temple's inner sanctuary, and officiating at the Vestalia (June 7–15), the period of public worship of Vesta. Failure to attend to their duties was punished by a beating; violation of the vow of chastity, by burial alive (the blood of a Vestal Virgin could not be spilled). But the Vestal Virgins also enjoyed many honours and privileges not open to married or single women of equivalent social status, including emancipation from their fathers' rule and the ability to handle their own property.
 

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • VESTAL VIRGINS —    See VESTA …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • Vestal Virgins —    These were six virgin priestesses in Rome who cared for Hestia s sacred fire. Chosen between the age of six and ten, they served for thirty years. After this time, they could leave if they chose. They had special privileges, including: the… …   The writer's dictionary of science fiction, fantasy, horror and mythology

  • vestal — [ves′təl] adj. 1. of or sacred to Vesta 2. of the vestal virgins 3. chaste; pure n. 1. short for VESTAL VIRGIN 2. a chaste woman; specif., a virgin …   English World dictionary

  • Vestal Virgin — In Ancient Rome, the Vestal Virgins ( sacerdos Vestalis ), were the virgin holy female priests of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth. Their primary task was to maintain the sacred fire of Vesta. The Vestal duty brought great honor and afforded… …   Wikipedia

  • vestal virgin — (in ancient Rome) one of four, later six, virgins consecrated to Vesta and to the tending of the sacred fire on her altar. [1400 50; late ME] * * * In Roman religion, any of six priestesses, representing the daughters of the royal house, who… …   Universalium

  • vestal virgin — ves′tal vir′gin n. myt (in ancient Rome) any of the women, pledged to remain virgins, who tended the sacred fire in Vesta s sanctuary • Etymology: 1400–50 …   From formal English to slang

  • vestal — /ˈvɛstl / (say vestl) adjective relating to, characteristic of, or resembling a virgin; virgin; chaste. {from the four (later six) virgins, consecrated by the ancient Romans to Vesta1} …  

  • vestal virgin — /vɛstl ˈvɜdʒən / (say vestl verjuhn) noun 1. (among the ancient Romans) one of the four, later six, virgins consecrated to Vesta and to the service of watching the sacred fire kept burning perpetually on her altar. 2. a virgin; a chaste,… …  

  • Virginity — Virgin and Maiden redirect here. For other uses, see Virgin (disambiguation) and Maiden (disambiguation). Invocation by Frederick Leighton White has traditionally been associated with ritual purity, innocence and virginity. Virginity refers to… …   Wikipedia

  • Religion in ancient Rome — Ancient Roman religion Marcus Aurelius (head covered) sacrificing at the Temple of Jupiter …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”