Ancient Rome was a patriarchal society, yet it was here that a group of women was revered almost as deities: the Vestal Virgins.
Marcus Licinius Crassus (died 53 BC), a powerful Roman general and the wealthiest man in Roman history, nearly faced execution due to a “scandal” involving Vestal Licinia, a Vestal Virgin.
Who was this woman, and what social status did she hold that could almost cost a man considered “above one, below ten thousand” his life? Let’s delve into this fascinating story!
The Scandal That Shook Ancient Rome
It is said that at one point, Crassus frequently visited the residence of Vestal Licinia. He followed Licinia everywhere, raising suspicions, leading to his eventual arrest and trial.
In truth, Crassus was not pursuing Licinia romantically; he was merely trying to “persuade” her to sell him her estate at a low price. Despite being known as the richest man (rumored to have as much as 200 million sestertii), Crassus did not seem particularly generous.
Crassus – the powerful Roman general who nearly faced execution for attempting to persuade a Vestal Virgin to sell her estate.
The exact price he offered remains unclear, but it is known that Licinia refused. Nevertheless, Crassus continued to pursue her to negotiate further.
Fortunately, during the trial, Crassus successfully proved the “innocent” nature of his intentions. As a result, both his life and Licinia’s were spared.
Maintaining the Flame That Represented the Nation’s Fate
Before the 4th century, the Romans practiced the worship of the goddess Vesta. Historians trace this tradition back to the era of Emperor Num Pompilius (753 – 673 BC). For the worship of the goddess Vesta, maintaining the flame in the temple hearth was the most sacred and important duty.
The Temple of Vesta, located in the Roman Forum (a rectangular plaza surrounded by significant architecture in the heart of Rome), housed the Vestal Virgins in the Atrium Vestae, a three-story palace with 50 rooms, a skylight, a spacious courtyard, a double pool, and a vast sacred grove nearby.
A dedicated presence is always required at the Temple of Vesta.
It was believed that this flame represented the destiny and prosperity of the nation. If it were to extinguish unexpectedly, it was seen as an omen of impending disaster. Therefore, someone was always required to be on duty at the Temple of Vesta.
The Vestal Virgins were responsible for maintaining and protecting this flame. Six women were appointed to live in the temple, constantly watching over and ensuring the flame burned steadily throughout the year.
The Vestal Virgins had the duty of keeping the sacred fire burning all year round.
Every year in March, the Vestals were allowed to light a new flame. From that moment until March of the following year, they were absolutely forbidden to let it extinguish.
In addition to overseeing the flame, the Vestal Virgins were also responsible for organizing and participating in important national festivals, particularly agricultural festivals. They were not only revered by the public but also highly respected by the imperial court, receiving numerous privileges and honors.
Absolute Reverence
In ancient Roman society, religion was closely intertwined with politics. Thus, the Vestal Virgins were treated with immense respect.
No one, not even the emperor, was allowed to insult a Vestal Virgin. Any man who dared to seduce or corrupt a Vestal would face the most severe punishment: being beaten to death with a whip.
No one, not even the emperor, was allowed to insult a Vestal Virgin.
However, during the era of the Vestal Virgins, there was one emperor who deliberately broke this tradition: Elagabalus (died 222). This emperor insisted on marrying a Vestal Virgin named Aquilia Severa and boldly announced to his court that he would soon have a “divine child.”
With the power of his throne, Elagabalus easily claimed the Vestal he desired. But this blatant violation of the law led to the most horrific death of the young emperor. On March 11, 222, while walking with his mother, he was ambushed and killed by the Praetorian Guard. They beheaded Elagabalus, stripped his body, and dragged it through the streets before finally throwing it into the river.
Conversely, if a condemned person encountered a Vestal on the way to execution, they would be granted immediate release.
Each Vestal Virgin had a bodyguard known as a Lictor. In public, they were under absolute protection from the Lictor, and when needing to move, they would be transported by the Lictor’s chariot. In addition to their annual income, they received pensions and had the right to pardon prisoners, as well as protect prominent political figures like Marc Antony (83 – 30 BC) and Julius Caesar (100 – 44 BC).
Notably, the Vestal Virgins were exempt from taxes, free from any collateral consequences (if a family member committed a serious crime), could make wills without oaths, and had the right to defend themselves in court if accused. Vestal Tuccia, regarded as a representative of the Vestal Virgins, was accused when the flame she was responsible for suddenly extinguished. In court, she vehemently protested and demanded to prove her innocence.
The court required Vestal Tuccia to fetch water from the Tiber River using a sieve and bring it to the temple. If she could prevent any water from leaking out, she would be declared innocent. Ultimately, Tuccia succeeded in passing the test. She not only became a living legend in contemporary Rome but also achieved immortality in later art.
Emperor Elagabalus, who broke tradition by marrying a Vestal and paid a heavy price.
But When a Vestal Broke the Law, They Faced Consequences
Apart from their absolute reverence, the Vestals were completely free from family control, were gifted estates, possessions, had the right to make wills, and could defend themselves in court (if suspected) without needing to take oaths.
However, great privileges came with high risks. Due to the worship of the goddess Vesta, ancient Rome placed extreme importance on the issue of chastity. They believed that the virginity of the Vestals was the “fuel” that kept the “flame of the nation’s life” burning brightly. Therefore, whenever this flame was extinguished, the Vestals were suspected of being the first to have become impure.
Due to the worship of the goddess Vesta, ancient Rome placed extreme importance on the issue of chastity.
If they could not prove their purity, the Vestals would face the punishment of being buried alive. Ancient Roman laws did not allow the virgin flame keepers to be beaten or shed blood. Therefore, they would be confined within four narrow walls and starved to death.
The punishment for a Vestal who broke the law was to be starved to death.
Moreover, if the capital or the nation was on the brink of war or chaos, the Vestal Virgins would be the first to be blamed, regardless of the condition of the flame they maintained. In 228 BC, when facing an invasion from the Gauls, and in 216 BC, when General Hannibal marched through… Rome blamed the Vestal Virgins and buried several of them alive.
Chosen from a Young Age and Required to Remain Chaste for 30 Years
Vestal Virgins are chaste, but not every chaste girl could become a Vestal. In fact, the selection of Vestals was conducted very strictly, starting from girls aged 6 to 10, who had to come from noble, beautiful, and healthy families without disabilities.
Once officially chosen, the girls would take an oath to dedicate themselves entirely to serving the goddess Vesta for the next 30 years. Afterward, they were taken to the Atrium Vestae, the home of the Vestal Virgins, to begin their “training period” to become priestesses.
In the first 10 years, the young girls were taught the doctrines and trained in the task of keeping the sacred fire. In the next ten years, having become young women, they took over the duties of the previous generation of Vestals, responsible for tending to the flame in the temple. In the remaining ten years, they returned to take charge of educating the “younger” Vestals.
If they do not make any mistakes during their 30 years of service, a Vestal will enjoy a very wealthy “retirement” life. Besides having a large, beautiful home, they continue to be revered just as they were in their youth.
