Vestal Virgins
- Created by: Hannah Jeffery
- Created on: 19-04-14 08:09
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- Vestal Virgins
- duty
- to ensure the flame of vesta never blew out
- the flame symbolised the power of the roman empire
- the oracle stated that if the flame was to burn out then Rome would fall
- Vesta was the goddess of the Hearth, Home and family
- perform sacrifices and other religious rites
- guard important state documents
- to ensure the flame of vesta never blew out
- criteria to be a vestal virgin
- had to be from a noble family and of an age of between 6-10
- free of bodily imperfections
- had to have living parents
- why parents would want their daughters to be vestal virgins
- an honourable job
- would provide their daughter with a high status and financial security
- didn't have to pay for a dowry
- privileges of being a vestal virgin
- they could make a will
- they're aloud to drive around the city in two wheeled carriages
- at theatrical performances they were reserved seats near the emperor
- they're given these privileges to stop them from yearning to have children
- they weren't under the control of any paterfamilias and so couldn't be made to swear any oaths
- out in public the streets were cleared for them by a lector (bodyguard)
- able to conduct business affairs with out a guardian
- if a vestal virgin accidently meets a criminal then he will not be executed
- anyone who walked underneath their litter is put to death
- punishment for breaking the vow of Chasity
- the unpure vestal virgin would carried on a bier in a funeral procession
- her friends and family would be there to mourn for her
- she would then be placed in a under group cell that the entrance would be filled in
- in the cell would be a lamp, food and water
- this way the priests wouldn't be directly murdering her
- the priest would say certain prayers and then lift his hands to the gods
- she would be wearing a veil
- in the cell would be a lamp, food and water
- the punishment was severe to encourage the other vestal virgins to remain pure
- it was thought that the vestal virgin stores up fertility would transferred into religious purposes
- the unpure vestal virgin would carried on a bier in a funeral procession
- their service
- ten years learning the duties of a vestal virgin
- ten years carrying out the duties of a vestal virgin
- ten years teaching younger vestal virgins their service
- afterwards if they wished they could marry and the church would provide them with a dowry
- but most remained in service to the goddess till their death
- punishments for minor offenses
- if the flame blew out (which could of been due to the wind) then the virgin was seen unpure and was whipped)
- numbers
- at first numa made two vestal virgins
- young fertile women couldn't be spared from marriage so the state could grow and because they were more useful to parents in marriage
- upper class families were smaller so more reluctant
- emperor Augustus said that anyone with more than three daughter didn't have to give there daughters to find more virgins
- as Rome became stronger the total increased to six
- at first numa made two vestal virgins
- duty
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