Editing Vesta (mythology) (section)

==Vestal Virgins==
{{Main|Vestals}}
[[File:Chief Vestal.jpg|thumb|upright|The ''Virgo Vestalis Maxima'' depicted in a Roman statue]]
The Vestales were one of the few full-time [[clergy]] positions in [[Religion in ancient Rome|Roman religion]]. They were drawn from the [[Patrician (ancient Rome)|patrician]] class and were required to swear an oath of absolute [[chastity]] for 30 years.<ref>Plut. ''Numa'' 10,2</ref><ref>Dion. Hal. 2,67,2</ref> It was because of this requirement that the Vestales were named the Vestal virgins. They wore a particular style of dress and were not allowed to let the fire go out on pain of a whipping. On becoming a priestess, a Vestal Virgin was legally emancipated from her father's authority.<ref name="Gaius 1,145">Gaius 1,145</ref> The Vestal Virgins lived together in a house near the Forum (''Atrium Vestae''), supervised by the [[Pontifex Maximus]]. A Vestal who broke her vow of chastity could be tried for [[incestum]] and if found guilty, buried alive in the ''Campus Sceleris'' ('Field of Wickedness').<ref name="Gaius 1,145" /><ref>Plut. ''Numa'' 10, 4</ref><ref>Gell. ''Noct. Att.'' 1, 12,9; 7,2</ref>

The {{lang|la|februae}} (''lanas'': woolen threads) that were an essential part of the Vestal costume were supplied by the [[rex sacrorum]] and [[flamen dialis]].<ref>Ovid ''Fas.'' 2, 21</ref> Once a year, the Vestals gave the ''rex sacrorum'' a ritualised warning to be vigilant in his duties, using the phrase "Vigilasne rex, vigila!" In Cicero's opinion, the Vestals ensured that Rome kept its contact with the gods.<ref>Cicero ''Font.'' 48.</ref>

A peculiar duty of the Vestals was the preparation and conservation of the sacred [[Brine|salamoia]] [[muries]] used for the savouring of the ''[[mola salsa]]'', a salted flour mixture to be sprinkled on sacrificial victims (hence the Latin verb ''immolare'', "to put on the ''mola'', to sacrifice"). This dough too was prepared by them on fixed days.{{sfn|Fraschetti|2001|pp=228–229}} Theirs also the task of preparing the [[suffimen]] for the [[Parilia]].{{sfn|DiLuzio|2016|p=197}}