Who was Vesta and why was she so important?

Vesta was (and still 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.

She was very important to the ancient Romans because one of her priestesses, Rhea Silvia, was the mother of Rome’s founder, Romulus. She was also important because her sacred flame was considered Rome’s hearth fire. It had to remain burning at all times if the city was to survive. The Eternal Flame of Vesta protected the Eternal City of Rome.

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.

While we tend to think of the Vestal Virgins as only existing in Rome, their order pre-dated the founding of Rome. We know that there were very ancient orders of Vestals in the cities of Alba Longa and Bovillae, for example.

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. To understand how this punishment can be reconciled with the Vestals’ high social and religious status, you may wish to read the article Vestal Virgins: Feminism & Burial Alive.

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 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, since they worshipped very different divinities and in very different ways. The Vestal Virgins honored the goddess Vesta, who is part of the polytheistic pantheon of ancient Roman religion, which is comprised of both gods and goddesses. In contrast, nuns worship Jesus Christ, the central figure of the monotheistic religion Christianity, which centers on one male god.

The Catholic nuns did, however, copy some of the traits of the Vestal Order (which was disbanded by the Christian emperor Theodosius in the late 4th century CE), including the headdress and attire of the Vestal priestesses, 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 luxury 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 affluence, nuns took a vow of poverty. While the Vestals served a fixed term of service, nuns were expected to serve for life. While the Vestals were entrusted to perform public religious rites and rituals, nuns were prohibited from performing public religious 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 divinities they worshipped as well as the responsibilities and reverence afforded to women in a religious and social capacity.

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 neopaganism / pagan revivalism continues to grow, Vesta is openly honored by many people around the world. AllThingsVesta.com, created by historical fiction author Debra May Macleod, BA, JD, is a leading resource to learn about Vesta’s history and present practices rooted in ancient tradition, and includes a wide variety of fascinating photographs, discussions about ancient history and ancient Roman religion, a popular blog, a gallery of artifacts, candle readings by the flame of Vesta, books and engaging videos. If you’d like to illuminate the ancient flame in your life, you may wish to start by visiting the Vesta Today page to learn simple rituals.

What are some modern practices inspired by the Vestal Virgins?

In antiquity, the Vestal Virgins created mola salsa sacred wafers that were used in various religious rituals, including offering into the sacred hearth and purifying animals before sacrifice. These became the Communion wafers used by the Catholic Church. In fact, nuns in cloistered orders continue to make the wafers using the same kind of ingredients that the ancient Vestal Virgins did.

The word futile - we use it all the time, but how many people know that it comes from the Vestal Virgins? A futile was a special kind of vessel used to collect the sacred spring water. Because the water could not be contaminated and had to remain pure, the futile vessel had a unique bottom that prevented it from being set down. If a priestess set it down, all the water would spill out - it was therefore futile to set it down.

Recreating the medallion of the last Vestal Virgin: https://medium.com/@contact_51420/recreating-the-medallion-of-the-last-vestal-virgin-of-rome-6a8cb136ef37

Recreating the hairstyle of the ancient Roman Vestal Virgins - https://earthsky.org/human-world/video-re-creating-the-hairstyles-of-the-early-roman-vestal-virgins/?utm_source=openai

How can I incorporate ancient Roman rituals into my daily life?

The ancient Romans practiced ancestor worship, so one way you could incorporate their principles into your life is to search into your own family history. Learn about your own ancestors and see what wisdom you can impart from their lives. For simple religious rituals, you can light a candle and set plates of offerings - like flour or bread or fruit - beside the candle. You can also offer libations like olive oil or wine. You should definitely have a home shrine, called a lararium, and place the statues of the gods or goddess you want to honor on it. Learning a few words of Latin to begin your prayers and offerings to the gods is also a meaningful thing to do.

Are there any online communities focused on honoring Vesta today?

All Things Vesta’s YouTube Channel has an online community at: https://www.youtube.com/@allthingsvesta/community

Can you recommend resources for learning about Vesta and her significance in Roman spirituality?

You’ll find a focused overview of Vesta’s history and significance here at All Things Vesta (on the Ancient History page); however, this site is primarily dedicated to helping people incorporate ancient traditions - including simple rituals to honor Vesta - into their modern life. Debra May Macleod’s historical fiction novels are also well-researched and well-reviewed by the Historical Novel Society and other sites. You can also explore these resources:

Vesta: Goddess of the Hearth and Home - Roman Mythology: https://www.romanmythology.com/gods-goddesses/vesta/?utm_source=openai

Vestal Virgins: Rome’s Most Powerful Priestesses - National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/history-magazine/article/vestal-virgins-of-ancient-rome?utm_source=openai

Vesta and Ancient Roman Religion, at a Glance (a Great Intro for Newbies) - https://medium.com/@contact_51420/vesta-and-ancient-roman-religion-at-a-glance-a-great-intro-for-newbies-b3ab3bed61a5

Vesta (mythology) - on Wikipedia: https://mythopedia.com/topics/vesta/?utm_source=openai

Can you recommend books on the Vestal Virgins?

Books on the Vestal Virgins can be either academic or historical fiction.

Academic / scholarly - Vestal Virgins (Robin Lorsch Wildfang); Excavations in the Area Sacra of Vesta (1987-1996, edited by Russell T. Scott); Portraits of the Vestal Virgins (Molly M. Lindner); History of the Vestal Virgins of Rome (T. Cato Worsfold)

Historical fiction: Debra May Macleod’s seven novels chronicle the entire history of the Vestal Order, from its rise in the 8th century BCE to its banishment in the 4th century CE. She has two trilogies on the Vestal Virgins: the first is The First Vestals of Rome (Rhea Silvia, Tarpeia, Amata) and the second is The Vesta Shadows (Brides of Rome, To Be Wolves, Empire of Iron). She also has a standalone novel about the fall of Rome and the last Vestal Virgin: Coelia Concordia: The Last Vestal Virgin of Rome

Can you recommend resources for learning about ancient Roman mythology?

One of the best resources for learning about ancient Roman mythology is still Edith Hamilton’s Mythology. You can find a free PDF of it here: https://www.bpi.edu/ourpages/auto/2017/9/1/52154697/Mythology.pdf