Rome's Vestal Virgins by Robin Lorsch Wildfang

Numa also appointed the Pontifex Maximus to preside over rites, prescribe rules for public ceremony, and watch over the Vestals.

The second century Roman antiquarian Aulus Gellius writes that the first vestal virgin taken from her parents was led away in hand by Numa Pompilius. ] Ambrose alludes to a seventh towards the end of the pagan era ]. Plutarch attributes the founding of the Temple of Vesta to Numa Pompilius, who appointed at first two priestesses to which were added another two with Servius raising the total to six. The objects of the cult were essentially the hearth fire and pure water drawn into a clay vase.' The discovery of a 'House of the Vestals' in Pompeii made the Vestal Virgins a popular subject in the 18th century and the 19th century. Rhea Sylvia, who was raped by Mars and conceived Romulus and Remus, and Tuccia, whose chastity was questioned, were sometimes accounted prototypes of Vestal Virgins. In mythology, the infamous Tarpeia, daughter of Spurius Tarpeius, was a traitorous Vestal Virgin. Due to the nature of their work the term 'vestal' is sometimes used to describe someone who maintains an archaic tradition. They were the only female priests within the Roman religious system. The Vestal duty brought great honor and afforded greater privileges to women who served in that role. Their primary task was to maintain the sacred fire of Vesta. In Ancient Rome, the Vestal Virgins ('sacerdos Vestalis'), were the virgin holy female priests of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth.

Rome's Vestal Virgins by Robin Lorsch Wildfang