vestal virgins

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• Vestal Virgins — ▪ Roman religion  in Roman religion, six priestesses, representing the daughters of the royal house, who tended the state cult of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth. The cult is believed to date to the 7th century BC; like other non Christian cults …   Universalium

• VESTAL VIRGINS —    See VESTA …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

• Vestal Virgins —    These were six virgin priestesses in Rome who cared for Hestia s sacred fire. Chosen between the age of six and ten, they served for thirty years. After this time, they could leave if they chose. They had special privileges, including: the… …   The writer's dictionary of science fiction, fantasy, horror and mythology

• vestal — [ves′təl] adj. 1. of or sacred to Vesta 2. of the vestal virgins 3. chaste; pure n. 1. short for VESTAL VIRGIN 2. a chaste woman; specif., a virgin …   English World dictionary

• Vestal Virgin — In Ancient Rome, the Vestal Virgins ( sacerdos Vestalis ), were the virgin holy female priests of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth. Their primary task was to maintain the sacred fire of Vesta. The Vestal duty brought great honor and afforded… …   Wikipedia

• vestal virgin — (in ancient Rome) one of four, later six, virgins consecrated to Vesta and to the tending of the sacred fire on her altar. [1400 50; late ME] * * * In Roman religion, any of six priestesses, representing the daughters of the royal house, who… …   Universalium

• vestal virgin — ves′tal vir′gin n. myt (in ancient Rome) any of the women, pledged to remain virgins, who tended the sacred fire in Vesta s sanctuary • Etymology: 1400–50 …   From formal English to slang

• vestal — /ˈvɛstl / (say vestl) adjective relating to, characteristic of, or resembling a virgin; virgin; chaste. {from the four (later six) virgins, consecrated by the ancient Romans to Vesta1} …  

• vestal virgin — /vɛstl ˈvɜdʒən / (say vestl verjuhn) noun 1. (among the ancient Romans) one of the four, later six, virgins consecrated to Vesta and to the service of watching the sacred fire kept burning perpetually on her altar. 2. a virgin; a chaste,… …  

• Virginity — Virgin and Maiden redirect here. For other uses, see Virgin (disambiguation) and Maiden (disambiguation). Invocation by Frederick Leighton White has traditionally been associated with ritual purity, innocence and virginity. Virginity refers to… …   Wikipedia

• Religion in ancient Rome — Ancient Roman religion Marcus Aurelius (head covered) sacrificing at the Temple of Jupiter …   Wikipedia