Who is Vesta?

Vesta is the ancient Roman goddess of the home and the hearth fire, though her origins reach back into distant antiquity, even before Rome existed. She is represented by and resides in her sacred “Eternal Flame.” Vesta is one of the dii consentes, the 12 most important gods and goddess of ancient Rome, which are more or less equivalent to the 12 Olympian gods and goddess of ancient Greece. Vesta’s Greek counterpart is Hestia.

Who were the Vestal Virgins?

The Vestal Virgins were the priestesses of Vesta. Their primary role was to keep Vesta’s Eternal Flame burning in her temple in the heart of the Roman Forum, for it was believed that if Vesta’s protective flame went out, Rome would lose the favor of the gods and suffer terrible catastrophes. Vestals were taken between the ages of 6 and 10 years old to serve in the temple, and took a 30-year vow of chastity. The first ten years were spent as novices, the next ten performing their duties, and the last ten teaching the up and coming novices. The Vestal Virgins were influential and politically significant, and performed a number of other important religious and state functions, such as safekeeping the emperor’s will and acting as peace emissaries during times of civil war. After a Vestal’s tenure was over, she was free to retire as a wealthy and independent woman, and even marry if she chose to.

Were the Vestal Virgins really buried alive if they broke their vow of chastity?

A Vestal Virgin who broke her vow of chastity (or who was believed to have done so) was interred alive in a pit in the Campus Scleratus or “Evil Field.” She was made to descend a ladder into the depths and was left with only a little flame for light, a little water and a little food. She would have either suffocated or died of thirst / starvation. It is important to note that relatively few Vestals met this horrible fate throughout the long history of the Vestal Order.

Who was the first Vestal Virgin?

We don’t know who the “first” Vestal Virgin was, since the Vestal Order is so very ancient. For example, it existed in Alba Longa and Bovillae before it came to Rome in the 8th century BCE. We do know the names of some very early legendary Vestals, however, including Rhea Silvia (who served in Alba Longa and likely later in Rome), Tarpeia (who infamously betrayed Rome) and Amata (whose name became part of the Vestal’s initiation formula). Other early legendary Vestals were named Veneneia, Gegania and Pinaria. As for real women who served as Vestals in Rome, the earliest ones that we know of (from the 5the century BCE) were named Oppia and Postumia. You can read about some of the early Vestals of Rome in my trilogy The First Vestals of Rome (Book 1 RHEA SILVIA, Book 2 TARPEIA, Book 3 AMATA).

When was the Temple of Vesta built?

The Temple of Vesta was likely built - for the very first time - by either King Romulus (Rome’s founder and first king) or by King Numa (Rome’s second king) in the 8th century BCE, not too long after Rome’s founding in 753 BCE. It was subsequently damaged, burned or otherwise destroyed many times and was built and rebuilt often as the centuries wore on. The ruins of the Temple of Vesta that you will currently find in the Roman Forum are probably from the last time it was rebuilt (after a fire) at the end of the 2nd century CE.

Who was the last Vestal Virgin?

The last Vestal Virgin, and Vestalis Maxima, of Rome was a woman named Coelia Concordia. It was during her tenure that the sacred fire of Vesta was extinguished on the orders of the Christian emperor Theodosius, under pressure by the bishop of Milan, Ambrose. This happened in 394 CE. Coelia Concordia is the subject of my novel COELIA CONCORDIA: THE LAST VESTAL VIRGIN OF ROME.

Did the Catholic nuns replace the Vestal Virgins?

No. However, the Catholic nuns did copy some of the traits of the disbanded Vestal Order, including their headdress and attire, replacing the pagan cross the Vestals sometimes wore around their necks with the Christian cross. The Catholic nuns (not all of whom were virgins, as the Vestals had to be) also adopted convent living, though very differently than the Vestals. While the splendid House of the Vestals was located in the heart of Rome and the Vestals were often seen moving about the city (performing their duties, attending the games or social events), early nuns were more cloistered in very modest buildings. While the Vestals were paid for their temple service and lived lives of relative luxury, nuns took a vow of poverty. While the Vestals were entrusted to perform many public rites and rituals, nuns were prohibited from performing public rites. For example, for centuries the Vestals had both made and used the sacred wafers (mola salsa) used in sacrifices; however, once their order was disbanded, nuns began to make these same wafers (they became the communion wafers of the Catholic church), although only male priests were allowed to use them in ceremony. It is therefore incorrect to say the Catholic nuns replaced the Vestal Virgins, since the two religious orders were fundamentally different in terms of the responsibility and reverence afforded to women.

Is Vesta still honored today?

Yes. In fact, it is likely that Vesta - along with countless other pagan deities - has never ceased to be honored, even if those who honored her had to do so quietly for many years to avoid persecution or ridicule. Today, as neo-paganism continues to grow and people continue to reclaim the gods and goddesses of their ancestors, Vesta is openly honored by many people around the world. If you’d like to illuminate the ancient flame in your life, visit the Vesta Today page.