House of the Vestals, Ancient religious residence in Roman Forum, Italy
The Atrium Vestae sits in the Roman Forum and shows a rectangular courtyard with two water basins and pedestals for statues along the colonnades. More than fifty rooms surround the courtyard on several levels, with living quarters, work areas and grain stores.
King Numa Pompilius founded the sanctuary in the 7th century BCE for six priestesses who tended the sacred fire. Emperor Theodosius dissolved the order in 394 after Christianity became the state religion.
The women who lived here owned property and could pardon condemned prisoners they met on the street. Their vow of chastity lasted thirty years, after which they were free to choose their own path.
The southern section shows a bakery with grindstone and the kitchen used by the priestesses. Visitors walk along the colonnades and see statues that once represented the residents.
Excavations after the order dissolved uncovered almost 400 gold coins and over 800 Anglo-Saxon coins. Some statues of the priestesses were deliberately mutilated after they fell from grace.
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