 Had to have no physical or mental defects  Had to have two living parents and born of free Roman citizens  Was chosen by the ponifex maximus  At the choosing ceremony, the captio, the ponifex took the chosen vestal with the words “I take you, Amata, to be vestal priestess, who will carry out sacred rites which it is law for a vestal priestess to perform on behalf of the Roman people, on the same terms as her who was a Vestal ‘on the best terms’”  They were taken to the atrium of Vesta’s temple

 To maintain the fire sacred to Vesta who was the goddess of hearth and home  To collect water from a sacred spring  To prepare food for rituals  To care for sacred objects in the temple’s sanctuary  They were also in charge of wills and testimonials of important people

 Always had the right of way  Had a reserved place of honor at festivals and games  Could own property, make a will, and vote  There word was trusted  If someone injured them they were punished by death  Could free prisoners and slaves by touching them

 If the fire burnt out, punishment was lashes.  Violating the oath of celibacy meant she was to be buried alive.

 Celebrate June 7 to June 15.  Mothers of families brought plates of food to her sanctuary.

 Palla – the palla was like any other, and pinned on her left shoulder.  Suffibulum – a white woolen veil worn at rituals and sacrifices and was found underneath red and white woolen ribbons shown to indicate her commitment to keeping the fire and her purity.  Infula - worn by religious figures in Rome. A Vestil’s was white and made of wool.

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