A vintage illustration showing Rhea Silvia being brought to the Temple of Vesta
In this scene, the usurper King Amulius of Alba Longa brings his niece, the princess Rhea Silvia, to the temple of Vesta where she is to remain a virgin for life. To the left, you can see four Vestals—the original number of full Vestals that served the temple (this was increased to six full Vestals later in Rome). According to legend, it is while serving as a priestess at the temple that Rhea Silvia is impregnated by Mars and conceives the famous twins Romulus and Remus. This story is the subject of my novel Rhea Silvia, Book One in The First Vestals of Rome trilogy.