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/