Vestales
Vestales, or Vestal Virgins, were a group of priestesses in ancient Rome dedicated to the goddess Vesta. They played a central role in Roman religion and civic ritual, tending the sacred fire in the Temple of Vesta and safeguarding sacred objects. Their duties extended to preparing meals for the gods, officiating at certain rites, and ensuring the ritual purity that symbolized the city’s welfare.
Selection and tenure: Typically six Vestals were chosen from freeborn girls between ages six and ten. The
Duties and status: The Vestals maintained ritual purity and kept the temple’s sacred fire burning, one of
Punishments and end of service: Violations of their vow carried severe penalties, historically by burial alive
Decline and legacy: The Vestal order persisted into late antiquity but declined as pagan rites were suppressed