Of all the amazing ruins in the Roman Forum, the House of Vestal Virgins is one of the most intriguing. It’s one of the highlights of any Roman Forum tour. The more you know about extraordinary lives of the Vestal Virgins, the more you’ll get out of your visit to this fascinating archaeological site.
The House of Vestal Virgins – Who were the Vestal Virgins?
The Vestal Virgins were priestesses for the Roman goddess of the hearth, Vesta. There were up to six Vestals at any one time, and they were chosen for the job when they were children – some as young as six years old. These girls were usually selected from noble families. The position was considered an honour, but also a huge and daunting commitment. They were tied to the job for 30 years, and expected to remain chaste, hence the name “Vestal Virgins”.
The main duty of the Vestal Virgins was tending the sacred fire in the Temple of Vesta, located next to their home in the Roman Forum. It was essential to keep this flame burning. The Romans were deeply superstitious, and believed that if the flame ever went out, the city was doomed to destruction.
The Vestals would also perform countless other rites and rituals, such as preparing sacred food. They also prepared offerings for special occasions or carried out acts of purification.
Transgressions were punished harshly. Vestals would be whipped or beaten for failing in their duties. If they broke their vow of chastity they might even be buried alive, or have molten lead poured down their throats. Vestals who finished their 30-year career without incident were free to re-join the community and marry.
However, according to Plutarch, most former Vestal Virgins remained single for the rest of their lives, and lived “with regret and melancholy”. As these women were so young when they began their lives as Vestal Virgins, the strict religious routine was essentially the only life they had ever known; this so-called freedom must have come as a shock.
Visiting the House of Vestal Virgins
The House of the Vestal Virgins is right next to the Temple of Vesta. Although the Vestals were not forbidden from leaving the area, their whole lives revolved around service to the goddess. Therefore, it made sense for them live close by. The house was a luxurious building with 50 rooms stretching over three floors. There was also a spacious central courtyard. The Vestals enjoyed much higher living standards than most other Romans at the time, with heated floors and high-quality plumbing. Life in the House of the Vestal Virgins was restrictive in some ways, but extremely comfortable in others.
Until recently, the House of Vestal Virgins and surrounding area was partially closed as a result of ongoing restoration work and archaeological studies. Make sure you explore the whole site, including the former apartments of the Vestals, and a mysterious room which may have been used for preparing bread as a divine offering, or possibly even for animals awaiting sacrifice.
The House of Vestal Virgins is located on the southern side of the Roman Forum, close to the Arch of Titus and the Palatine Hill. It stands out as a distinct area among the ruins due to its large rectangular garden and paths lined with marble statues of the Vestals. To explore the archaeological site in-depth and learn more about the daily lives of the ancient Romans, we recommend visiting as part of a Colosseum and Roman Forum tour.
Highlights of a Roman Forum tour
Once you’ve visited the House of Vestal Virgins, make sure you visit the other famous sites in the Roman Forum. You might not be able to fit in everything on a single trip. Especially, if you’re visiting the Colosseum or the Palatine on the same day, but don’t miss these monuments:
- Arch of Titus – impressive triumphal arch built in the 1st century to commemorate the Roman victory in Jerusalem
- Temple of Saturn – the iconic remains of a 5th century BC temple dedicated to the god Saturn. This place was once the location of the Roman Republic treasury
- Basilica of Maxentius – the largest building in the Roman Forum. This basilica served as a courthouse and meeting place for the ancient Romans, and inspired the architectural layout of future churches
You can visit all of these monuments and more with Roads to Rome Private Tours. A guided tour led by an expert is by far the best way to explore the archaeological sites of Ancient Rome. You’ll get to see all the highlights even if you’ve only got limited time to spend in Rome. Also, you’ll learn valuable context, deepening your understanding and appreciation of the places you visit.
Discover Rome with the experts – contact the team at Roads to Rome Private Tours!
Read more: Roman Forum (History)
Written by Alexandra Turney
