Vestal Virgins facts
While investigating facts about Vestal Virgins, I found out little known, but curios details like:
The vestal virgins. A group of six women recruited at age six to tend the flame of the goddess vesta. Expected to serve for 30 yrs, if their viginity ever came into question they would be buried alive as punishment.
A Baltimore hairdresser helped prove that ancient Roman Vestal Virgins' hairstyles were not wigs, as was commonly believed, but was instead achieved through the use of needle & thread, which she showed by recreating the hairstyle on a live person for the first time in centuries
In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across. Here are 8 of the best facts about Vestal Virgins I managed to collect.
-
In ancient Rome if a prisoner on his way to execution saw or touched a Vestal Virgin, we was automatically pardoned. Hurting one came with an automatic death sentence.
-
During the 7th century B.C., ancient Roman "vestal virgins" were required to keep their hymens intact as proof of virginity until age 30 or they would be buried alive.
-
Ancient Rome's Vestal virgins were charged with keeping the sacred hearth lit. Bound to chastity, as sex with a citizen was considered incest for them, they would be buried alive in the "Evil Field" if found guilty of being unchaste.
-
In ancient Rome, virgin priestesses tended the sacred fire of Vesta, the goddess of the home and hearth. Each priestess served for a period of 30 years. If a Vestal Virgin was caught having sex during her time of service, she would be buried alive under the city.
-
Vestal Virgins (celibate priestesses) in Ancient Rome were traditionally buried alive if they had sexual activity. Roman Law did not allow live burials in the city. Instead, they were sealed in caves with small amounts of food, left to starve to death inside, so not technically buried in city
