Explore the House of Vestals on Our Rome Tour with Colosseum & Vatican
Day tours from Rome give visitors the chance to experience the rich history and culture that spiders out from the capital and imbues other parts of the country. The House of the Vestals (also known as the House of the Vestal Virgins) was the home of the Vestal Virgins. It was situated to the east of the impressive Roman Forum, between the Regia and the Palatine Hill, just behind the Temple of Vesta.
The Atrium Vestae, the most prominent part of the House of the Vestals, was an opulent three-storey palace that spanned over 50 rooms in total. It flanked a grand atrium that boasted a double pool inside the ancient walls of the Roman Forum. To the east of the atrium, there was a vaulted hall where a statue of Numa Pompilius, the mythological founder of the cult, proudly sat.
The Fire of Rome in 64 put paid to the impressive original grounds of the House of the Vestals, but it was rebuilt over and over again throughout the Empire, proving what an important part of Roman culture it was. When Christianity became compulsory in the 4th century, the House of the Vestals became a simple residential building before it became the home of officials of the imperial court and, later, the papal court.
Numerous archaeological digs have taken place at the spot where the House of the Vestals sat, uncovering gold coins from the 5th, 9th, and 10th centuries. In the 11th and 12th centuries, the site was abandoned and quickly became part of the ruins of Rome.
The Atrium Vestae was the brainchild of Domitian, but it was completed by Trajan in AD 113. There were six Vestals, aged between 6 and 10, who were essentially chosen by the Emperor to learn and serve under the Dionysius of Halicarnassus for 30 years. During the first 10 years, the Vestals were required to learn the sacred rites through and through, before the next 10 years were spent performing them. For the final 10 years of their service, they taught the sacred rights. It was vital that the Vestals were chaste the entire time they served for the Emperor and, in return, they received benefits that no other women could at that point in history.
The House of the Vestals remains one of the most fascinating parts of Roman history, and its ancient narrative can still be explored today.
Discover the amazing House of Vestals on our Rome Tours. For more information, please visit: https://www.romecitytour.it/
Original Source: https://sightseeingtoursitaly.wordpress.com/2018/08/23/what-you-should-know-about-the-house-of-the-vestals/
