The Roman Forum is one of Rome’s most impressive tourist attractions, playing host to a number of ancient ruins that propel visitors back thousands and thousands of years. The House of the Vestals is one of the most prominent sites in the Forum, and it was originally the residence of the Vestal Virgins who were the priestesses of the cult of Vesta.
Today, you can witness the remains of the perished house, as well as a collection of artefacts that have been preserved over time. These include statues and well-maintained building parts that have helped archaeologists to determine the lives of the women who once lived there.
The History of the House of the Vestals
The Temple of Vesta was built back in the 2nd century BC, but the movement of the vestal Virgins began way before then. In fact, it was in 700 BC that the King of Rome was informed that the Goddess Vesta – the virgin goddess of hearth, home, and family – would protect his city.
In order for her to do this, a magic fire needed to be lit and stay lit for eternity to honor her. The task of keeping the fire burning was given to a college of virgin women who were later dubbed the Vestal Virgins. Years after, the Temple of Vesta was built along with the House of the Vestals to give the virgins a home from which they could carry out their duties.
The Historic Architecture of the House of the Vestals
The House of the Vestals can be found slap bang between the Regia and the Palatine Hill in the fascinating Roman Forum. Throughout the thousand years that the Vestal Virgins worked for the kingdom, the site grew and grew to create an entire community and complex of which some still remains today.
The very first House of the Vestals was built right at the base of the world-famous Palatine Hill. This was home to the Temple of Vesta and the virgins’ sleeping quarters, but it was burnt to the ground in 64 AC. The new house was built on a much larger scale than the original and boasted a traditional Roman style with three stories and 50 rooms – it was pretty much a palace back in the day.
Exploring the remains of the House of the Vestals is a must if you want to unravel one of Rome’s most important and prominent historical narratives. The women that lived in the house served the kingdom for thousands of years and helped create the city that lies there today.
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