Punishments Vestal Virgin

early 18th-century depiction of dedication of vestal, alessandro marchesini

allowing sacred fire of vesta die out serious dereliction of duty. suggested goddess had withdrawn protection city. vestals guilty of offence punished scourging or beating, carried out in dark , through curtain preserve modesty

the chastity of vestals considered have direct bearing on health of roman state. when entered collegium, left behind authority of fathers , became daughters of state. sexual relationship citizen therefore considered incestum , act of treason. punishment violating oath of celibacy buried alive in campus sceleratus or evil field (an underground chamber near colline gate) few days of food , water. ancient tradition required unchaste vestal buried alive within city, being way kill without spilling blood, forbidden. however, practice contradicted roman law no person might buried within city. solve problem, romans buried offending priestess nominal quantity of food , other provisions, not prolong punishment, vestal not technically buried in city, instead descend habitable room . moreover, die willingly. actual manner of procession campus scleretatus has been described this:

when condemned college of pontifices, stripped of vittae , other badges of office, scourged, attired corpse, placed in close litter, , borne through forum attended weeping kindred, ceremonies of real funeral, rising ground called campus sceleratus within city walls, close colline gate. there small vault underground had been prepared, containing couch, lamp, , table little food. pontifex maximus, having lifted hands heaven , uttered secret prayer, opened litter, led forth culprit, , placing on steps of ladder gave access subterranean cell, delivered on common executioner , assistants, conducted down, drew ladder, , having filled pit earth until surface level surrounding ground, left perish deprived of tributes of respect paid spirits of departed.

cases of unchastity , punishment rare. in 483 bc, following series of portents, , advice soothsayers religious ceremonies not being duly attended to, vestal virgin oppia found guilty of breach of chastity , punished. vestal tuccia accused of fornication, carried water in sieve prove chastity.

o vesta, if have brought pure hands secret services, make sieve shall able draw water tiber , bring temple.

the prominent feature of ruins once temple of vesta hearth (seen here in foreground).

because vestal s virginity thought directly correlated sacred burning of fire, if fire extinguished might assumed either vestal had acted wrongly or vestal had neglected duties. final decision responsibility of pontifex maximus, or head of pontifical college, opposed judicial body. while order of vestals in existence on 1 thousand years there ten recorded convictions unchastity , these trials took place @ times of political crisis roman state. has been suggested vestals used scapegoats in times of great crisis.

pliny younger convinced cornelia, virgo maxima buried alive @ orders of emperor domitian, innocent of charges of unchastity, , describes how sought keep dignity intact when descended chamber:

when let down subterraneous chamber, , robe had caught in descending, turned round , gathered up. , when executioner offered hand, shrunk it, , turned away disgust; spurning foul contact person, chaste, pure, , holy: , deportment of modest grace, scrupulously endeavoured perish propriety , decorum.

dionysius of halicarnassus claims earliest vestals @ alba longa whipped , put death breaking vows of celibacy, , offspring thrown river. according livy, rhea silvia, mother of romulus , remus, had been forced become vestal virgin, , when gave birth twins, stated merely loaded down chains , cast prison, babies put river. dionysius relates belief live burial instituted roman king tarquinius priscus, , inflicted punishment on priestess pinaria. 11th century byzantine historian george kedrenos extant source claim prior priscus, roman king numa pompilius had instituted death stoning unchaste vestal virgins, , priscus changed punishment of live burial. whipping rods preceded immuration done urbinia in 471 bc.

suspicions first arose against minucia through improper love of dress , evidence of slave. found guilty of unchastity , buried alive. postumia, though innocent according livy tried unchastity suspicions being aroused through immodest attire , less maidenly manner. postumia sternly warned leave sports, taunts , merry conceits. aemilia, licinia, , martia executed after being denounced servant of barbarian horseman. few vestals acquitted. cleared through ordeals. paramour of guilty vestal whipped death in forum boarium or on comitium.