Il crimen incesti della vestale

The aim of this research is to meticulously analyze the crimen incesti: i.e. the loss of virginity of the priestess of Vesta. The significance of the Cult of Vesta in the Roman world is of paramount importance, since it was intricately linked to the stability, prosperity, and very existence of Rome. Its establishment dates back to antiquity, possibly initiated by either King Romulus or Numa, thereby coexisting with the very foundation of Rome. Recruitment into the priesthood of Vesta occurred at a very early age, typically between six and ten years old, and was subject to stringent requirements such as freedom from bodily defects, because the physical perfection of the Vestals was considered a reflection of the idealized state of Rome. Upon initiation, through the ritual of the captio, the virgin underwent a legal transfer from the potestas of her paterfamilias to that of the goddess Vesta, who she had to serve for a minimum of thirty years. During her religious service, the Vestal enjoyed a plethora of rights and privileges, which set her apart from ordinary women, legally considered inferior to men, and this elevated status brought the priestess closer to the legal standing of men in Roman society. The primary responsibility of a virgo vestalis was the maintenance of the sacred fire, symbolizing the existence and prosperity of Rome. The accidental extinguishing of this flame was perceived as a perilous threat to the city, indicative of the gods’ displeasure. The most paramount duty of a Vestal Virgin was the preservation of her sacred virginity. The violation of this physical purity constituted a heinous crime, in Roman law called incestum. Such transgression was viewed as an affront to the pax deorum, the harmonious relationship between humans and gods. The breach of chastity equated to the breaking of the pax deorum. Hence, it is not merely coincidental that the occurrences of incestum, as documented by ancient sources, consistently aligned with pivotal and calamitous events in Roman history, such as plagues, military setbacks, or internal conflicts. Upon suspicion, investigations led by pontifices ensued, and if guilt was established, the Vestal faced a trial before the collegium pontificum. The trial aimed to determine the state of purity of the priestess and identify the culpable man. If found guilty, the Vestal’s lover faced a gruesome punishment: he was stripped naked and whipped to death, while the unchaste Vestal faced a harrowing fate: she was buried alive in an underground chamber. This chamber, however, was equipped with essential provisions for survival, such as bread, milk, water, a bed, a blanket, and even a small lamp. From the moment of her initiation into the priesthood, the Vestal, was considered sacer, belonging exclusively to the goddess Vesta. The goddess held sole responsibility for determining her life or death. Consequently, the Romans implemented measures to ensure that the ultimate accountability for her death did not rest upon them. Despite the seemingly harsh punishment, this research aims to suggest that the burial of the Vestal should not be regarded as a death penalty. Instead, it proposes that the punishment served to isolate the priestess from the community, surrendering her fate to the goddess Vesta, who was in fact associated with the earth. This interpretation draws a parallel between the fate of the unchaste Vestal and the concept of homo sacer: i.e. an individual condemned by the gods for a grave offense, left to the deities to determine an appropriate punishment. This novel perspective offers a fresh insight into understanding the crimen incesti of the Vestal Virgins, as scholars have not previously explored this connection between the two phenomena.