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/