The Vestal Virgins

The Vestal Virgins have been known for years as the Roman priestesses of the goddess Vesta. They maintained the hearth fire at the temple of Vesta, to honor the goddess’s role in the Olympus as the keeper of the hearth. According to the stories, Vesta was also a virgin, a rarity amongst Greco-Roman gods, and thus the organization shared the name.

However, the name was only honorary, to demonstrate respect for Vesta and her choices, and did not apply to any member of the Vestals. While the facade was kept well amongst the lower classes, the first lesson new Vestals received is that they had no need to be virgins, in a secret ritual known to none. What was known was that the ritual had a strange effect on the women. To the middle and high classes, the Vestals are known as the most lustful women of the Empire, often having sexual adventures with many men, including the highest ranking officers, and - it was rumored- the Emperor himself.

As the Empire spread, one Emperor, hearing the cries of his generals and servants posted on distant cities, allowed the created of Vestal Virgin temples in all major cities across the Empire, and a few medium ones, so the men posted far from Rome could enjoy the pleasures of the Vestals. They gained fame as they spread to all corners of the Empire, and began to create smaller temples across the land, keeping the ritual pure as their numbers grew larger, and some members began to wander the Empire, as mobile Vestals traveling from town to town.

Even some of the lower class eventually learnt about this and began to enjoy their pleasures. The Vestals vehemently denied they were prostitutes, and refused to be paid for the sexual acts, instead keeping themselves afloat through donations. Fortunately, the Empire had a great share of rich men who were perfectly willing to help them. They had many adventures across the Empire, as many men enjoyed their pleasures, and in rare occasions, even women, though very secretly.