A Vestal Virgin was a woman who served the ancient Roman goddess named Vesta. Vesta ruled over things like homes and hearths, and to show honour to her the Romans kept an eternal flame burning in her temple, which was located just off of the Forum Romanum. The Vestal Virgins took care of this flame and made sure that it never went out, as this would be a great affront to the goddess. This was because many people relied on fire for everything, and if all the fires in your house went out you could come to the temple and get it re-lit. Vestal Virgins were chosen at birth, by the head priestess of the Vestal order; she was called the Pontifex Maximus, and she chose her girls by a type of lottery. The girls were very young, and they were taken from their homes to live in the temple. Once there they were shaved bald and told that they had to be celibate.

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While many may consider this a serious problem, Vestal Virgins were accorded a very high place in Roman society. Without the rights and privileges of being a Vestal Virgin woman would spend their lives without rights, under the heavy hands of their husbands. When one of these women turned thirty she could, if she so chose, take a husband. Most of the women in the temple chose not too because they enjoyed the rights and privileges their vows gave them. If a Vestal Virgin broke her vow of celibacy she was sealed up in an underground passage with a bit of food and water. Once their she would live until her supplies ran out, eventually starving to death.

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