Temple of Vesta and the House of the Vestal Virgins

Temple of Vesta and the House of the Vestal Virgins

By Gwyne Henke

The Goddess Vesta• Hearth and home• Mimics hut• Door faces east

(fire+sun=life)

http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Roma/Rome/Forum_Romanum/_Texts/Huelsen*/2/32.html

Style of Temple• 20 Corinthian pillars• Smoke vent• 46 ft wide• favissa (trapezoidal pit) inside

http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/romanforum/vesta.html

Contents of Temple• Sacred Fire• Palladium

From Troy by Aeneas?• No Vesta images

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Vesta

http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Roma/Rome/

Rebuilding of the Temple• June 15th: Ashes to Tiber

• Fire of Nero (AD 64)Rebuilt by Julia Domna

• By Renaissance, extremely damaged

http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/romanforum/vesta.html

The Vestal Virgins• Tend to the flame• Girls recruited at 6-10 years• Vow of cellibacy• After 30 years, can marry

http://www.historyandwomen.com/2010/05/vestal-virgins-of-rome.html

http://thepinesofrome.blogspot.com/2012/01/numa-pompilius-and-vestal-virgins.html

House of the Vestals• Behind Temple of Vesta

• East Forum

• 3 story palace• Numa Pompilius

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vestalvirgins11.jpg

The End

Right:http://www.the-romans.co.uk/home.htm

Left: http://cnes.cla.umn.edu/courses/Rela35073MT1/