A Day In the Life: The Vestal Virgins Antiquity Architectural - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

A Day In the Life: The Vestal Virgins’ Antiquity Architectural History in Rome Friday, 8 June 2018 Hayley Fooshee Lynn Le Sasha Simasek Taylor Starlin

The Vestal Virgins History Selection Process and Terms of Service Began by Numa Requirements Committed to serve ● ● Pompilius in 717 BC Free from mental and for 30 years ● Governed by the physical defects Sworn to live service ● ● pontifex maximus Two living parents in celibacy ● Chosen between the Daughter of a free- 30-year service ● ● ● ages of 6-10 years old born resident of Rome divided into three Live in the House of Patrician or Plebeian stages: student, ● ● the Vestals attached birth servant, and teacher to the Temple of Vesta Led away from Retired after 30 years ● ● in the Roman Forum families and placed of service and Four Vestals serve 30 under the protection replaced with a new ● year commitments of Vesta Vestal Chief Vestal - Vestila Virtuous and pure in Permitted to marry ● ● ● Maxima nature after the end of Chosen by the service ● pontifex maximus

The Vestal Virgins Job Description Privileges Punishments Protecting and Presence at Scouring or beating if ● ● ● maintaining the numerous public the fire of Vesta was sacred fire of Vesta, events extinguished the goddess of hearth Reserved honor Subject to public ● ● and home seating at games and shame and offense if Collecting water from performances anything negative ● the sacred spring Transported in a happened to the ● Preparing food used carpentum Roman state ● in sacred rituals Escorted for personal Live burial if caught ● ● Protecting the wills protection breaking the vow of ● and testaments of Entrusted with wills & celibacy ● important Romans testaments, Guarding sacred Ability to free the ● ● objects such as the condemned Palladium Assigned salaries from ● the public treasury Pensions

The Festival of Vesta Real name of the festival is On the 9th, the animal ● ● Vestalia consecrated to Vesta, a It was a religious festival donkey, was crowned with ● It was held from June 7th to garlands of flowers and bits ● the 15th of bread On the first day the of the On the last day, the temple ● ● festival, the sanctum of the was subjected to a Temple of Vesta was opened purification which is when for the first time during the the filth was swept from the year temple and then carried The women would offer into the Tiber River ● sacrifices Mothers could come and leave ● offerings to the goddess in exchange for a blessing

THE TEMPLE OF VESTA

LOCATION Numa Pompillius ● Regia (royal residence) ● House of Vestals ●

ARCHITECTURE

HESTIA AND THE SACRED FIRE OF VESTA The flame originated from Hestia ● The sacred fire represents two things ● What happens when the fire goes out ●

The Roman Forum This place, which is located in the city of Rome, had important ancient government buildings. The citizens referred to this space as a marketplace. The Temple of Vesta is located at the forum.

The Colosseum Back then the Vestal Virgins were able to go through the un- numbered gates of the colosseum. This allowed them to go in with the Magistrates, Emperor, Wealthy Patricians, Senators, and the Visiting Dignitaries.

The Virgins were given their own box that was seated on opposite sides of the Emperor. They had such power, that if they met a prisoner they were able to remit his sentence.

History of Punishment When becoming a Vestal Virgin, you made a vow to yourself and to the community of Rome. The timeline of being disobedient included at first, being stoned to death. It wasn't until after the 5th king of Rome, said they should be buried alive.

Life after 30 years... For Roman men, the ultimate trophy wife was of a former Vestal Virgin. With their rights and pensions, Roman men sought out after the former Virgins to be apart of their wealth. A virgin named Licinia, had been put on trial for a man trying to marry her before she was retired. The jury saw him as greedy for the wealth of the virgin.

The Baths of Caracalla Since the baths were used by all of the Romans, rich or poor, a slave or an emperor, the baths were a place of being unified. Statues of Vestal Virgins have been found during excavations of the baths. They are now placed in the Vatican Museum.

Pompeii Not far from Rome, the city of Pompeii housed another temple to the goddess Vesta. The wealthy citizens of Pompeii participated in the festival of Vesta using their homes, businesses, their forum, and theater as celebratory locations honoring Vesta’s favor. Not much honor is found here today.

View Into the Theater View View Into Colonnade Pompeii’s Theater Theater and Facing the Stage and Courtyard Colonnade

Indoor Dining Residence’s Interior Pompeii Street Entryway Mosaic Room

House of the Vestals This residence, which once housed the city’s most honored citizens and important documents, is now overshadowed by more popular relics of antiquity.

House of the Vestals

Modern Day Vestals These images depict one artist’s interpretations of modern day Vestal Virgins. While stating that these women are imitating the Vestals, they are uncovered, showing off their physical appearance.