History Vestal Virgin

livy, plutarch, , aulus gellius attribute creation of vestals state-supported priestesshood king numa pompilius, reigned circa 717–673 bc. according livy, numa introduced vestals , assigned them salaries public treasury. livy says priestesshood of vesta had origins @ alba longa. 2nd century antiquarian aulus gellius writes first vestal taken parents led away in hand numa. plutarch attributes founding of temple of vesta numa, appointed @ first 2 priestesses; servius tullius increased number four. ambrose alludes seventh in late antiquity. numa appointed pontifex maximus watch on vestals. first vestals, according varro, named gegania, veneneia, canuleia, , tarpeia. in myth, tarpeia, daughter of spurius tarpeius, portrayed traitorous.

the vestals became powerful , influential force in roman state. when sulla included young julius caesar in proscriptions, vestals interceded on caesar s behalf , gained him pardon. augustus included vestals in major dedications , ceremonies. held in awe, , attributed magical powers. pliny elder, example, in book 28 of natural history discussing efficacy of magic, chooses not refute, rather tacitly accept truth:

at present day, too, general belief, our vestal virgins have power, uttering prayer, arrest flight of runaway slaves, , rivet them spot, provided have not gone beyond precincts of city. if these opinions once received truth, , if admitted gods listen prayers, or influenced set forms of words, bound conclude in affirmative upon whole question.

the urban prefect symmachus, sought maintain traditional roman religion during rise of christianity, wrote:

the laws of our ancestors provided vestal virgins , ministers of gods moderate maintenance , privileges. gift preserved inviolate till time of degenerate moneychangers, diverted maintenance of sacred chastity fund payment of base porters. public famine ensued on act, , bad harvest disappointed hopes of provinces... sacrilege rendered year barren, necessary should lose had denied religion.

the college of vestals disbanded , sacred fire extinguished in 394, order of christian emperor theodosius i. zosimus records how christian noblewoman serena, niece of theodosius, entered temple , took statue of goddess necklace , placed on own neck. old woman appeared, last of vestals, proceeded rebuke serena , called down upon punishment act of impiety. according zosimus, serena subject dreadful dreams predicting own untimely death. augustine inspired write city of god in response murmurings capture of rome , disintegration of empire due advent of christian era , intolerance of old gods had defended city on thousand years.

vestalis maxima

the chief vestal (virgo vestalis maxima or vestalium maxima, greatest of vestals ) oversaw efforts of vestals, , present in college of pontiffs. vestalis maxima occia presided on vestals 57 years, according tacitus. last known chief vestal coelia concordia, stepped down in 394 disbanding of college of vestals.

the vestalium maxima important of rome s high priestesses. flaminica dialis , regina sacrorum each held unique responsibility religious rites, came office part of couple.