The #Vestals

Young women from #Patrician-only families (later expanded to #Plebian families) were chosen to serve as Vestals. They had to remain celibate for 30 years, but after their service, were free to marry. Unlike most Roman women, they “were free to own property, make a will, and #vote.”

They were given the responsibility of maintaining #Vesta’s #SacredFire, “collecting water from a #SacredSpring, preparation of food used in rituals and caring for sacred objects in the temple's sanctuary.”

They made a special flour, “mola salsa,” that was “sprinkled on all public offerings” to the gods. They were also in charge of the safekeeping of wills and testaments of prominent people, such as Casear and
Marc Antony (Connelly, 219).

#VestalVirgins #RomanPriestesses #RomanWomen #History #RomanHistory #AncientHistory #Histodon #Autonomy #WomensRights #WomenVoting