statue of Vestal Virgin

A statue of a Vestal priestess: this statue stands in the ruins of the courtyard of the House of the Vestals alongside a number of others.

This statue displays the attire and religious headdress of the Vestals, including the infula headband and vittae ribbons hanging from it. The headband and ribbons were red and white wool to represent the fire and the purity of the goddess / Vestals. The arrows in this photo are pointing to holes which would have supported a large necklace.

The statue of this Vestal Virgin resembles that of Coelia Concordia, Rome’s last Vestal Virgin. To see how this statue and Coelia Concordia’s would have looked in antiquity, check out this article which contains some great photos: Recreating the Medallion of the Last Vestal Virgin of Rome

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A Well-Preserved Statue of a High Priestess of Vesta

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An Illustration of Rhea Silvia Being Brought to the Temple of Vesta