Podcasts about vestal virgins

The Great Myth of the Sun GodsBy Alvin Boyd KhunIt may be that many of you have come to this lecture with the expectation of hearing about the superstitious beliefs of some ancient fire-worshippers or sun-worshippers. You may wonder why we should presume to waste an evening dilating upon the childish fancies of early peoples who could conceive of no more exalted form of deity in the universe than the physical body of our sun. Can there possibly be anything important in the study of such forms of crude fetishism?Let me disabuse your minds of any such prepossession at once. We have not invited you to hear of infantile nonsense of early child-humanity. On the contrary, it is our opinion that there is not a theme within the entire range of religious interest of such sublimity and authentic grandeur as this subject of the Sun-gods. We have come to the persuasion that this is the most important lecture that we have given or shall ever give. In it there is to be found the central thesis of all religion. We have asked you to hear an exposition of the cardinal principle of all true religion. Instead of dealing with an erratic notion of primitive barbarism, we have to present to you this evening the long-lost supreme datum of all high religion. And it is our design to show that religion in the world has drifted so far away from its original base that it no longer recognizes the very first and fundamental conception about which it was in the beginning constructed. The myth of the Sun-gods is the very heart's core of religion at its best.It is commonly supposed that religious honors were paid to the sun as a deity by a few isolated peoples or sects, such as the Parsees and the ancient Ghebers of Persia, and some African tribes. In correction of this view we are prepared to support the declaration that the worship of the Sun-god was quite universal in the ancient world. It ranged from China and India to Yucatan and Peru. The Emperor and the Mikado, as well as the Incas, and the Pharaohs were Sun-god figures. And is the belief only an empty myth? So far from being such, it is at once the highest embodiment of religious conception in the spiritual history of the race.Since the word "myth" occurs in the title, it is necessary to define it so that we may the better glimpse the nature of the subject. To the modern mind the word carries with it a derogatory implication. To reduce any construction to the status of a myth is to put it out of court and render it valueless. We regard a myth as a fiction and a falsity. To show that a theory or a belief is only a myth, is to relegate it to the world of non-reality, and dismiss it from further consideration as a thing of value.Not so with the ancients. With them (the ancients) a myth was a valuable instrumentality of knowledge. It was an intellectual, even a spiritual, tool, by the aid of which truth and wisdom could at one and the same time both be concealed from the unworthy and expressed for the worthy. The ancients rightly regarded spiritual truth and experience as being incapable of expression or impartation by means of words simply. A myth or an allegory could be made the better means of conveying subtly and with a certain added force, the truth veiled under a set form of dramatic presentation. The myth would enhance spiritual truth as a drama reinforces moral situations. It was all the more powerful in its message precisely because it was known not to be outwardly a true story. No one was caught by the literal falsity of the construction. Attention could therefore be given wholly to the hidden import, which was not obscured by the outward occurrence. The myth was known to be a fiction; therefore it deceived nobody--until the third century. But at the same time it was most ingeniously designed to instruct in the deepest of spiritual truths. It was a literary device to embalm lofty wisdom in the amber of a tradition that could be easily remembered, in the guise of a human story. It was truth incarnated in a dramatic occurrence, which was known to be untrue. Outwardly fictitious, but inwardly the substance of a mighty truth, was the myth. And as such it was the universal dress in which ancient knowledge was clothed.To indicate the universality of the Sun-god myth it is only necessary to enumerate some thirty of the chief figures known as Sun-gods amongst the nations about the Eastern Mediterranean, before the advent of Jesus. There were in Egypt, Osiris, Horus, Serapis, Hermes or Taht (Thoth), Khunsu, Atum (Aten, Adon, the Adonis or Phrygia), Iusa, Iu-sa, Iu-em-hetep; in Syria, Atis, Sabazius, Zagreus, Kybele (femine); in Assyria Tammuz; in Babylonia, Marduk and Sargon; in Persia, Mithra, Ahura-Mazda and the Zoroasters; in Greece, Orpheus, Bacchus (Dionysus), Achilles, Hercules, Theseus, Perseus, Jason, Prometheus; in India, Vyasa, Krishna, Buddha; in Tibet the Boddhisattvas; besides many others elsewhere.Likewise in the ancient Mystery dramas the central character was ever the Sun-god the role being enacted by the candidate for initiation in person. He went through the several initiations as himself the type and representative of the solar divinity in the field of human experience.Moreover, the Patriarchs, Prophets, Priests and Kings of Biblical lore are no less Sun-god figures. For in their several characteristics they are seen to be typical of the Christos.From the study of a mass of the ancient material the sincere and disingenuous student becomes ere long convinced of the fact that the Jesus figure of the Gospels, whether he lived historically or not (and there is much question of it even among theologians), is just another in the long list of the solar gods. They were figured by ancient poetic genius as embodiments of divine solar glory living among men, if they were not purely the mythical constructions of the allegorists.These Sun-god characters, of none of whom can it be said positively that they were living personages, were, it must be clearly noted, purely typical figures in the national epics of the several nations. They were symbols, one might say. But of what were they symbolical? That is the point of central importance. They were representative characters, summing and epitomizing in themselves the spiritual history of the human individual in his march across the field of evolving life on earth. They were the types and models of the divine potentiality pictured as coming to realization in their careers. They were the mirror held up to men, in which could be seen the possibilities locked up in man's own nature. They were type-figures, delineating the divine life that was an ever-possible realization for any devoted man. They were the symbols of an ever-coming deity, a deity that came not once historically in Judea, but that came to ever-fuller expression and liberation in the inner heart of every son of man. The solar deities were the gods that ever came, that were described as coming not once upon a time, but continuously and regularly. Their radiant divinity might be consummated by any earnest person at any time or achieved piecemeal.They were typed as ever-coming or coming regularly because they were symboled by the sun in its annual course around the zodiac of twelve signs, and the regular periodicity of this natural symbol typified the ever-continuing character of their spiritual sunlight. The ancients, in a way and to a degree almost incomprehensible to the unstudied modern, had made of the sun's annual course round the heavens a faithful reproduction of the spiritual history of the divine spirit in man. The god in us was emblemed by the sun in its course, and the sun's varied experiences, as fabulously construed, were a reflection of our own incarnational history. The sun in its movements through the signs was made the mirror of our life in spirit. To follow the yearly round of the zodiac was to epitomize graphically the whole history of human experience. Thus the inner meaning of our mortal life was endlessly repeated in the daily, weekly, monthly and yearly cycle of the sun's passage, the seven or twelve divisions of which marked the seven- or twelvefold segmentation of our spiritual history or our initiations. (They were figured at first as seven, later as twelve, when the solar gods came upon the cosmic scene.)The careers of these solar gods, then, were a type of what is occurring to every man who is dowered with the spark of divine soul within his breast. Each one of us has had or will have his festival of conception in June, his birth into the world of fleshly life in the autumn, his spiritual awakening at Christmas, and his glorious resurrection from the dead body of this life at Easter.The Christians say the Christos came once in a single character in history, Jesus of Judea, saying nothing about his coming to Everyman at all times. They present to the world the Only-Begotten Son of the Father, confusing in one historical figure two distinct characters of ancient philosophy, the Logos and the Christos, and making both historical in a human being born of woman. Suffice it to say that neither character was historical in the ancient systems. The Logos and the Christos were cosmic forces, and the erring Christians confounded these "personages" of ancient philosophy with the mundane career of the man Jesus, who was not other than one of the mythical Sun-god heroes, or national type-figures. What a travesty of truth the Christian representation has become! What a caricature the Gospels have made of the divine spiritual principle in man's life!The ancients had no "only-begotten" son because the term used in their systems, miserably mistranslated "only-begotten," was something with quite a different connotation. It was in Greek "monogenes," and in Latin "unigenitus," and was far from meaning "only-begotten." It meant that which was begotten of one parent, the father, alone, not the offspring of the union of father and mother. By the term the ancients meant to designate him who was the projection into matter of the spirit forces of life, not the final product of the union of spirit and matter, or the male and female elements. Had the early Christian Fathers known of the inner meaning of the symbolism of the Egyptian Ptah, as Khepr-Ra, who was typed by the male beetle that incubated in the ground and without union with the female transformed and regenerated himself after twenty-eight days (exactly a moon cycle) in the form of the young scarab, symbol of the new-born sun in the moon, they would have been intelligent enough to have avoided the great schisms that divided the Church into Roman and Greek Catholic bodies over the abstrusities of this very origin of the persons of the Trinity. But Egypt was farther away from Rome of the third century than it is from us, who can now read the inscriptions that were sealed from them.All this ancient scriptural data accentuates the fact that not the historical Jesus, but the spiritual Christ, or the god within the individual heart (as expounded in the lecture on Platonic Philosophy in the Bible) is the subject of the sacred writings of old, and the kernel of the whole religious ideology. Angelus Silesius has expressed this in a stanza which should be a perpetual reminder of the futility of clinging to the historical interpretation of Gospel literature.Though Christ a thousand times in Bethlehem be born, But not within thyself, thy soul will be forlorn; The cross on Golgotha thou lookest to in vain, Unless within thyself it be set up again. And the Christian hymn, "O Jesus, thou art standing, outside the fast-closed door," gives expression to the kindred idea that while we look across the map to localize the Christos in Judea, we keep the spiritual mentor of our own lives standing without, seeking an entrance into our lives in vain.By the aid of archaic sacred books we have been enabled to trace authentically the origin of the name Jesus. And it is of great importance to present this material, because it throws a flood of clear light upon the ancient conceptions of the Messiah and the coming Son, or Sun-god. In this light the name will be seen to be a type-designation and not the personal name of an historical being.It is derived from the two letters (or numbers) which in the beginning of typology symbolized the two first elements, spirit and matter, into which the primal One Life bifurcated. They are the I (or 1) symboling the male or spirit, and the O (letter) or 0 (cipher) symboling the female or material universe. Together they represented the biune male-female deity. We have, then, the letters IO, or the number 10. As the vowels were freely interchanged, in ancient languages, the name was written either IO, IA, IE , or IU, and all these forms are found. Next the I transformed into consonantal value and became a J (as it is yet in Latin), so that we find the names JO, JA, JE and JU, from each of which many names have arisen. When the creation had combined the male and female and the two had given birth to the Son, or Logoic universe, the name was given the form of three letters, and we then find such forms as IAO, JAH, IEO, JEU, ZUE. When the universe became founded on the four cardinal points or the square of four dimensions, the name was spelled variously as IEOU, JOVE, ZEUS, JEVE, DIOS, T/HEOS, HUHI, IHUH and others. In its character as a sevenfold or seven-lettered name, it took the form of JEHOVAH, SABAOTH, DEBORAH, DELILAH, SEP/HIROT/H, MICHAEL, SOLOMON, and others of seven letters. The I permuted with l (el) or 1 (one), so that IE became LE or, inverted EL, the great Hebrew character of deity. The EL and the IAH (JAH), became the most frequent determinatives of divinity, as a host of names will testify. There are Bethel, Emanuel, Michael, Israel, Gabriel, Samuel, Abdiel, Uriel, Muriel Azazel, and many others, in which the EL is prefixed. The JAH is seen in such names as EliJAH, AbiJAH, while the IAH comes in a host of such names as Nehemiah, Jeremiah, Obediah, Hezekiah, Isaiah, Messiah, Alleluiah and more.But whence comes the "s" in Jesus's name? This is of great importance. It is derived from an Egyptian suffix written either SA, SE, SI, SU, or SAF, SEF, SIF or SUF (SAPH, SEPH, SIPH or SUPH) and meaning "the son," "heir," "prince" or successor to the father. (The F is an Egyptian ending for the masculine singular.) When the original symbol of divinity, IO or IE, JO or JE, was combined with the Egyptian suffix for the succeeding heir, SU or SA, the resultant was the name IUSA, IUSE, IUSU, or IOSE; or IESU, JESU, IUSEF, IOSEF, JOSEF. One of the many forms was JESU and another was JOSEF. The final F became sibilant at times and gave us the eventual form of JESUS. The name then meant the "divine son," and combined in the Egyptian IU the idea of the coming one. Hence JESUS was the Messiah, the coming son of the divine life. There was in Egypt for ten thousand years B.C. the character of this functionary under the name of IUSA. Later he was the Iu-em-hetep, which means "the divine son who comes with peace (hetep). But most interestingly, this last word also means seven. Hence Jesus is he who comes as the seventh principle to complete the six elementary powers of natural evolution with the gift of divine intelligence, which supplants the elementary chaos with the rulership of love and intelligence and thus brings peace into a warring situation. Hence finally, Jesus is the seventh cosmic principle, announced in all religious lore as he who comes to bring peace and good will to men. And as such he was announced in the Christian Gospels. But there was more than one Jesus or IUSA or IU before the coming of the alleged historical Jesus.Startling as are the implications of this bit of etymology, a far more amazing denouement of Bible study is the revelation that not only were there over thirty Sun-god figures in the cults of the various nations of old, but there are immediately in the Bible itself, in the Old Testament, some twenty more Sun-god characters under the very name of Jesus! Are we speaking arrant nonsense or sober truth when we make a claim which seems at first sight so unsupportable? Twenty Jesus characters in the Old Testament! Let us see. We have noted the many variant forms of the Jesus name. There are still others in the Old Testament, never suspected as being related to the name of the Christian Redeemer. There are Isaac, Esau, Jesse, Jacob, Jeshu, Joachim, Joshua, Jonah and others. All these are variant forms of the one name, which has still other forms among the Hebrews in secular life, Yusuf, Yehoshua, Yeshu, etc. Joshua, Hosea and Jesse are from this name indisputably. A few might be the subject of controversy.Furthermore, beside these that bear the original divine name, there are other Sun-god figures in the Old Testament under a wide variety of names. They are Samson (whose name means "solar"), David, Solomon, Saul (equals soul, or sol, the sun--Latin.), Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Jephtha and the like. Their actions identify them as solar representatives.Now let us see what the conception of our divinity as a Sun-god in reality meant to the sages of old, and what it should mean to us. It meant that the divinity within us, our divine soul or Self, was itself the Sun-god, or solar deity. And what does this signify in concrete terms for us? Just this; that the god within us is constituted of the imperishable essence of solar light and energy! In short, we ourselves, in our higher nature, are solar gods in potentiality! Our highest nature is an incorruptible body composed of the glorious essence of the sun's energy! The gods in the Bible were always symboled by the light or fire of the sun. We are now enlightened to see it as a description of our nature as veritable truth and fact. We are Sun-gods. Our immortal spirits within us are composed of the radiant substance of solar energy.At the very time we were first assembling the material for this lecture, there came an announcement in the daily press of a discovery by a modern physicist, Dr. George W. Crile, of the Cleveland Laboratories, which practically fixed the seal of truth upon every word we have uttered or shall utter in this lecture. It was most startlingly corroborative of our exegesis. He announced that he had discovered at the heart of every living organism a tiny nucleus of energy, all aglow, with temperatures ranging from 3000 to 6000 degrees of heat, which he called "radiogens" or "hot points." These, he said, were precisely akin to the radiant energy of solar matter. He affirmed, in short, that a tiny particle of the sun's power and radiance was lodged within the heart of every organic unit! The light and energy that has life. What would be Crile's surprise, however, if he were to be shown a sentence taken from Hargrave Jennings' old book on the Rosicrucians, written over sixty years ago: "Every man has a little spark (sun) in his own bosom?" For this was one item in the teaching of the Medieval Fire-Philosophers, and the reason they were styled such. They knew what Crile has discovered, as likewise did the ancient Bible-writers. They based their Sun-god religions upon it. Our souls are composed of the imperishable essence of solar light! We are immortal because we are Sun-gods.But many will impatiently rise to expostulate with us, and ask why, if this was the universal fundamentum of the old religions, the Bible itself does not categorically carry this message and state this central fact. Wait a moment! Who that knows this primary datum has searched the Bible to see if it has nothing to say on the point? We, too, believed the Bible was remiss in expressing this conception, until we searched with a more watchful eye. And now let us hear what the Bible says as to our solar constitution, and determine for ourselves whether it is silent on the groundwork of religion or not. Let us hear first the Psalms. "Our God is a living fire," say they; and "Our God is a consuming fire." "The Lord God is a sun," avers the same book. "I am come to send fire on earth," says Jesus, meaning he came to scatter the separated sparks of solar essence amongst mankind, a spark to each soul. In Revelation the angels scatter the fire and the incense of their seven censers over the earth, among the inhabitants. Then says John the Baptist: "I indeed baptize you with water, but he that cometh after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire!" Jesus says: "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." (Satan was the descending Lucifer, or Light-bringer, before he was lifted up and divinized.) The fire that falls on Jeremiah's altar and many another in the Bible narrative types the deity coming to dwell with mortals. Says Jesus: "When I am in the world I am the light of the world." Again he said: "Ye are the light of the world," and "Let your light so shine that others may . . . glory your father which is in heaven." The Lord, say the Psalms, "made his angels messengers and his ministers a flame of fire." The New Testament Jesus, following the well-known Egyptian diagram of the Ankh, the solar disk with the spread wings, is described as "the sun of righteousness, risen with healing in his wings." John has Jesus saying that the condemnation of the world lay in that it rejected the light when it was sent into the world. Says Job: "Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. The light shall be dark in his tabernacle and his candle shall be put out with him." Isaiah writes: "Behold all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks; walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks that ye have kindled." We are adjured to "Rise, shine, for thy light is come." "The Lord is my light," reiterates the Psalms. And again: "In thy light shall we see light." "Light is sown for the righteous." "We wait for light," cry the souls in the darkness of incarnation, far from their original fount of light. John declares that the Christos "was the true light" which was to come Messianically for the redemption of our lower nature. And again he declares that with the Christos "light is come into the world." No cry echoes with more resounding intensity down to this age than Paul's exhortation to our souls buried in lethal darkness: "Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine upon thee!" And in Revelation there are those mighty pronouncements: in the spiritual resurrection "there shall be no more need of the sun to shine by day nor the moon by night, for the glory of the Lord did lighten it." And there is no more heartening assurance anywhere in the Bible than Jesus's statement: "Ye have light in yourselves."And these are only a gleaning from the great score of similar passages with which the Bible teems. And still folks will say they find no warrant for the Sun-god idea in the Bible!In Rome the sacred fire in the temple of Vesta was guarded by seven Vestal Virgins, chosen for purity and for psychic vision. If they permitted the fire to die out (symbolic of the light of deity dying out in the heart) the penalty upon them was death. If they violated their sexual purity, they were buried alive in the city. And from the great old Egyptian Book of the Dead we take just one passage among scores: "Lo, I come from the Lake of Flame, from the Lake of Fire, and from the field of flame, and I live." And again, from an old Book of Adam and Eve we quote a great passage in which the Lord says: "I made thee of the light, and I wished to bring out children of the light from thee." If only we had been taught by our religious teachers that our spiritual natures are woven and fabricated of solar light, we should have had a clearer apprehension of our potentialities for divine education.Supplementing all this material from the Bible and ancient scriptures, there is at hand for our supreme enlightenment one grand pronouncement from Greek Platonic philosophy which we conceive to be that lost ultimate link between science and religion. It is the truth before whose altar both science and religion can kneel at last and find themselves paying tribute to the same god,--the god of solar radiance. It is a sentence from the learned Proclus, last of the Great Platonists: "The light of the sun is the pure energy of intellect." Are we big enough to catch the mighty significance of that statement? Is it not the essence of what the modern physicist means when he talks of "mind-stuff?" The fiery radiance of the sun is already the motivating genius of intellect! Matter is itself intelligent and intelligence! Here is the basic link between all naturalism and all spirituality. Matter enshrouds and contains the soul of mind and spirit. The light of the sun is the deific flash of intellect! And the very core of our conscious being is a spark of that infinite indestructible energy of solar light. There is the "seminal soul of light" or the seed of fiery divinity (Prometheus's "fire" stolen from the gods) in each of us. It makes us a god.Armed with this unquenchable fire which is intellect, we are sent on earth to inhabit a body which is described as a watery and miry swamp. The body is nearly eighty per cent. water! It is the duty of the fiery spark to enlighten the whole dark realm of mortal life, to transmute by its alchemical power the baser dross of animal propensity into the finer motivation of love and brotherhood. This life is a purgation--Purgatory--because it is a process of burning and tempering crude animal elements into the pure gold of spiritual light. In Egyptian scriptures the twelve sons of Ra (the twelve sons of Jacob, and the twelve tribes of Israel) were called the "twelve saviors of the treasure of light." An Egyptian text reads: "This is the sun within us, the seminal source of light. Do not dim its luster or cause it to suffer eclipse." And another runs: "Give ye glory as to the sun; he is the chief, the only one coming from the body, the head of those who belong to the race of the sun."With this force of fire we must uplift the lower man and transmute his nature into the spiritual glow of love and intelligence. With it we must turn the water of the lower nature into the wine of spiritual force. Around it we must aggregate the refined material which we shall build into that temple of the soul, that body of the resurrection, the great garment of solar light, in which we shall rise out of the tomb of the physical corpus and ascend with the angels. This is the radiant Augoeides of the Greeks, the Sahu of the Egyptians, in which the soul wings its flight aloft like the phoenix, after rending the veil of the temple of the body. It is our garment of immortality, the seamless robe of glory, in prospect of which we groan and travail, says St. Paul, as we earnestly desire to be clothed upon with the garment of incorruption. As flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdom of heaven, we must fashion for our tenancy there this body of solar glory, in whose self-generated light we may live eternally, having overcome the realms of darkness, or spiritualized the body. Jesus prays the Father to grant unto him that glory that he had with him before the world was, and his prayer is fulfilled in the formation of the spirit body out of the elements of the sun.Who is this King of Glory?--says the Psalmist. And we are exhorted to lift up the aeonial gates, the age-lasting doors, to let the King of Glory enter into our realm. The King of Glory is the Sun-soul within us, raised in his final perfection in the fulness of Christly stature to the state of magnificent effulgence. The King of Glory is the immortal Sun-god, the deity in our hearts; and when at last he blazes forth in the heyday of his glory, and comes in majesty into our lives, then we behold his glory, as of the alone-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. And when he appears to those still sitting in the shadow of darkness, they report that "they have seen a great light, and to those that sat in the valley of darkness did the light shine." And this light, seen ever and anon by some illuminated son of man, as he gropes in the murks of incarnation, is truly "that light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world."And when that light shineth clearer and brighter unto the perfect day, then, indeed, we know of a surety that we ourselves are nucleated of that same glorious essence of combined intellect and spirit. Then we know that we ourselves are the Sun-gods, and that the ancient allegory is not a "myth," but the very essence of our own Selfhood.The Great Myth of the Sun GodsBy Alvin Boyd Khunhttp://mountainman.com.au/ab_kuhn.html This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dwtruthwarrior.substack.com/subscribe

Preview: Roman women: Conversation with the classicist Emily South, author of A Rome of One's Own, re: The myths and facts of wives and daughters from the Kingdom to the Christian rise. Here Emily describes how Vestal Virgins were sacrificed when bad news arrived. More later. 1838 ABDICATION OF SULLA

This is the second part of the lore from Season 9, Episode 8 "A Rock and a Hard Place" about Vesta and the Vestal Virgins. The full lore is also available on our YouTube Channel. Research LinksWildfang, Robin Lorsch. Rome's Vestal Virgins: A Study of Rome's Vestal Priestesses in the Late Republic and Early Empire. Routledge, 2006.Vestal Virgins ClothingThe Vestal Virgins - The Ancient Romans:History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of AugustusTrial of the Vestal Virgins.” Trial of the Vestal Virgins (114–113 BC) Rhea Silvia - Glorious Women Who Shaped Roman History EP1October Horse - WikipediaThe Legend of Romulus - World History EncyclopediaHow Were Vestal Virgins Chosen?Fordicidia - WikipediaVestal Virgins - The BAS LibraryRe-creating the hairstyle of the ancient Roman Vestal VirginsVesta – MythopediaClodia Laeta - WikipediaElagabalus - WikipediaCassius Dio — Epitome of Book 78Janet Stephens - YouTubeThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Was Season 9, Episode 9's title "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" a pun that I just now got? Anyhow we talk about that, and the Vestal Virgins. Research LinksAulus Gellius, Attic Nights John C. Rolfe, Ed.Online Companion to Worlds of Roman Women: ChildhoodThe Vestal Virgins - The Ancient Romans:History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of AugustusRome's Vestal Virgins 1st Edition, Kindle EditionVestal Virgin Tuccia (Corradini sculpture) - WikipediaHow Were Vestal Virgins Chosen?The Sexual Status of Vestal Virgins on JSTORVesta (mythology) - WikipediaRomulus - WikipediaVesta – MythopediaThe Vestal Virgins - The Ancient Romans:History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of AugustusVestal Virgins ClothingStola - WikipediaThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

The tourist at the 2000-year-old home of the Vestal Virgins in Pompeii who was arrested after carving his family's initials in one of the walls!

On today's episode of the Occult Symbolism and Pop Culture with Isaac Weishaupt podcast we head back to the Grey Lodge in this bonus Twin Peaks episode! This episode we're covering the Twin Peaks film "Fire Walk With Me!" This movie is truly a “Talisman that came to life” and we'll decode the whole thing today! This films sets us up to understand Season 3 and the larger themes at play here of apocalyptic occult battles between good and evil! Symbolism discussed includes Lil as Lilith, Luciferian Blue Roses, Deer Meadow as the Twin Peaks shadow, garmonbozia, "Power and the Glory" connections to Lord's Prayer and Kabbalah, passage of the Moon Goddess, sacrifice of the Vestal Virgins at Capitoline Hill, and lots of references to S1 and S2 that will make much more sense! ...and stick around- because we'll ALSO decode The Missing Pieces lost footage! LET'S ROCK!*PLOT SPOILERS FOR SEASON 1, SEASON 2, AND LAURA PALMER'S SECRET DIARY!!!! Trigger warning: there are scenes of sexual abuse. Explicit language is also used.See images discussed on Isaac's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isaacweishaupt/WANT MORE TWIN PEAKS ANALYSIS?... We're decoding the ENTIRE universe of Twin Peaks on the supporter feeds! Index of Twin Peaks Grey Lodge series: https://illuminatiwatcher.com/twin-peaks-occult-symbolism-guide-enter-the-grey-lodge/Show sponsors- Get discounts while you support the show and do a little self improvement!*CopyMyCrypto.com/Isaac is where you can copy James McMahon's crypto holdings- listeners get access for just $1WANT MORE?... Check out my UNCENSORED show with my wife, Breaking Social Norms: https://breakingsocialnorms.com/GRIFTER ALLEY- get bonus content AND go commercial free + other perks:*PATREON.com/IlluminatiWatcher : ad free, HUNDREDS of bonus shows, early access AND TWO OF MY BOOKS! (The Dark Path and Kubrick's Code); you can join the conversations with hundreds of other show supporters here: Patreon.com/IlluminatiWatcher (*Patreon is also NOW enabled to connect with Spotify! https://rb.gy/hcq13)*VIP SECTION: Due to the threat of censorship, I set up a Patreon-type system through MY OWN website! IIt's even setup the same: FREE ebooks, Kubrick's Code video! Sign up at: https://illuminatiwatcher.com/members-section/*APPLE PREMIUM: If you're on the Apple Podcasts app- just click the Premium button and you're in! NO more ads, Early Access, EVERY BONUS EPISODE More from Isaac- links and special offers:*BREAKING SOCIAL NORMS podcast, Index of EVERY episode (back to 2014), Signed paperbacks, shirts, & other merch, Substack, YouTube links & more: https://allmylinks.com/isaacw *STATEMENT: This show is full of Isaac's useless opinions and presented for entertainment purposes. Audio clips used in Fair Use and taken from YouTube videos.

Viewer discretion is advised in this episode today as we're making references too human sacrifice, SA and unaliving Were human sacrifices made in the Greco-Roman world to the gods? Today we're looking at a myth of Hades and Persephone and a real life account of the Vestal Virgins to Vesta. MASSIVE Patreon News and Updates: (0:00-7:46) Aphrodite Restock: (7:46-9:24) Styx and Bones Lore?: (9:24-13:41) Disclaimer for Todays Episode: (13:41-16:20) Pietas with the Gods: (16:20-29:21) Myth of Sacrifice to Hades and Persephone: (29:21-37:43) Human Sacrifice and the Vestal Virgins: (37:43-51:46) Modernizing Pietas and Final Thoughts: (53:00-1:02:08) STYX AND BONES TEMPLE Shop our products: https://tinyurl.com/tzxrnzh2 Book a service: https://tinyurl.com/2dyz7su8 FOLLOW STYX AND BONES ON SOCIAL MEDIA https://www.instagram.com/styxandbonespodcast https://www.instagram.com/styxandbonestemple https://www.tiktok.com/@styxandbonestemple FOLLOW HIGH PRIESTESS CHELSEA https://www.instagram.com/chelseaghostwhisperer/ https://www.tiktok.com/@chelseaghostwhisperer FOLLOW DR. K https://www.instagram.com/dirtdiaries_ https://www.tiktok.com/@dirtdiaries_ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/styx-and-bones-podcast/support

Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was its wild and wacky religious tradition! In this episode of History for Weirdos, we're ditching the gladiators and emperors for a deep dive into the enigmatic world of the Vestal Virgins. These weren't your average Roman ladies – they were powerful priestesses who wielded immense influence, guarded sacred flames, and swore a 30-year vow of chastity. But don't let the "virgin" title fool you; their lives were far from chaste and quiet. Join your favorite weirdo historians, Stephanie and Andrew, as they unravel the secrets of these influential women. We're talking supernatural powers, political intrigue, scandalous rumors, and the ultimate price paid for breaking their sacred vows. Brace yourselves for a wild ride through ancient Rome's spiritual underbelly. - Thank you for listening Weirdos! Show the podcast some love by rating & subscribing on whichever platform you use to listen to podcasts. Your support means so much to us. Let's stay in touch

One of the most important gods in the Roman pantheon was the goddess Vesta.  Vesta was the goddess of the hearth and home, and her temple was one of the most important in ancient Rome. It was attended by six women who were some of the most important in all of Roman society. They were given privileges that few in Rome were allowed, but it also came at a very steep price. Learn more about the Vestal Virgins, the cult of Vesta, and its role in Roman society on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Sponsors Available nationally, look for a bottle of Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond at your local store. Find out more at heavenhilldistillery.com/hh-bottled-in-bond.php Sign up today at butcherbox.com/daily and use code daily to choose your free offer and get $20 off. Visit BetterHelp.com/everywhere today to get 10% off your first month. Use the code EverythingEverywhere for a 20% discount on a subscription at Newspapers.com. Subscribe to the podcast!  https://link.chtbl.com/EverythingEverywhere?sid=ShowNotes -------------------------------- Executive Producer: Charles Daniel Associate Producers: Benji Long & Cameron Kieffer   Become a supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/everythingeverywhere Update your podcast app at newpodcastapps.com Discord Server: https://discord.gg/UkRUJFh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everythingeverywhere/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/everythingeverywheredaily Twitter: https://twitter.com/everywheretrip Website: https://everything-everywhere.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

D'Arcy gets personal and discusses her Shotgun Wedding co-star, Lenny Kravitz with Paul F. Tompkins, Drew Tarver, and Heléne Yorke! How does he connect to the Vestal Virgins of ancient Rome? Listen to find out!Wikipedia and its trademarks are used with permission from the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that supports Wikipedia. The views expressed in WikiHole belong to SmartLess Media and are not endorsed or affiliated with Wikipedia.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Though we are taught to think of women and feminine energy as 'secondary' or 'less than', Eris and Vesta remind us of their key role in protecting the planet. At one point a celebrated part of society for this role, women and our spiritual power have remained important yet been rendered invisible. This has created an imbalance. As we move into the Age of Aquarius, our contributions are being brought into focus. This podcast is a conversation about the spiritual orders of women who have united to protect the human energy spectrum. Starting off with a conversation of Creation and a reminder of our connection to Mother and Father of this Universe, I bring us to a moment in the human story when women and our contributions came under fire. The crucifixion. Before that moment, women and our role were well known and appreciated, as is exemplified in the Vestal virgins. Since the moment where Creator was betrayed through the acts done to Christ, women have endured a different kind of treatment We have carried a big load this last thousand years and it is important that we a) express that we have done it, b) heal from the experiences we endured doing it and c) complete our sacred tasks. This podcast is a celebration, some information, and encouragement for those on this path. Featuring my favourite teacher Mary Magdalene, the Vestal Virgins, and the contemporary feminine flame holders (Eris), this one is dedicated to Venus. To attend the 'Healing Venus' energy alignment + Sacred Connection experience: ⁠https://indicrowacademy.learnworlds.com/course/healing-the-feminine-energy-alignment-and-information-session⁠ To get an invitation to the working session, email me at katieindicrow@gmail.com (I do it this way to keep us safe). --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/katie-indicrow/message

How sexually depraved were the Romans?Whilst they were a civlised, stoic and innovative bunch, they were also a promiscuous bunch with very questionable morals.Joining us today is friend of the show Emma Southon, author of A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women.How did the Romans view incest? What fate awaited the Vestal Virgins? And what went on at the debauched festivals of Bacchus? Let's find out.This podcast was edited and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.Don't miss out on the best offer in history! Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts.Get a subscription for £1 for 3 months with code BETWIXTTHESHEETS1 sign up now for your 14-day free trial https://historyhit/subscription/

Chrissie tells you about the priestesses of Vesta, Rome's only women-only priesthood. Read the essay here: https://historywiththeszilagyis.org/hwts226 Find us on Twitter:The Network: @BQNPodcastsThe Show: @HistorySzilagyi.Chrissie: @TheGoddessLivia. Jason: @JasonDarkElf.Send topic suggestions via Twitter or on our Facebook page History with the Szilagyis.History with the Szilagyis is supported by our patrons: PatiSusan Capuzzi-De ClerckLaura DullKris HillVince LockeJoin these wonderful supporters by visiting patreon.com/historywiththeszilagyis. The BQN Podcast Collective is brought to you by our listeners. Special thanks to these patrons on Patreon whose generous contributions help to produce this podcast and the many others on our network! Jason AndersonVera BibleSusan Capuzzi-De ClerckTim CooperChrissie De Clerck-SzilagyiLars Di ScenzaThad HaitMatt HarkerPeter HongJim McMahonJoe MignoneGreg MolumbyMahendran RadhakrishnanTom Van ScotterDavid WillettCarl WondersAnonymousDavidYou can join this illustrious list by becoming a patron here: https://www.patreon.com/BQN

The film opens during Caesar's invasions of Britain, with Mark Antony (Sid James) struggling to lead his armies through miserable weather. At a nearby village, cavemen Horsa (Jim Dale) and Hengist Pod (Kenneth Connor) attempt to alert Boudica to the invasion, but are captured by the Romans. Once in Rome, Horsa is sold by the slave-trading firm Marcus et Spencius, and Hengist is destined to be thrown to the lions when no-one agrees to buy him. Horsa and Hengist escape and take refuge in the Temple of Vesta. Whilst hiding there, Julius Caesar (Kenneth Williams) arrives to consult the Vestal Virgins, but an attempt is made on his life by his bodyguard, Bilius (David Davenport). In the melee, Horsa kills Bilius and escapes, leaving Hengist to take the credit for saving Caesar's life and to be made Caesar's new bodyguard. When a power struggle emerges in Egypt, Mark Antony is sent to force Cleopatra (Amanda Barrie) to abdicate in favour of Ptolemy. However, Mark Antony becomes besotted with her, and instead kills Ptolemy off-screen to win her favour. Cleopatra convinces Mark Antony to kill Caesar and become ruler of Rome himself so that they may rule a powerful Roman-Egyptian alliance together. After seducing one another, Mark Antony agrees, and plots to kill Caesar. Caesar and Hengist travel to Egypt on a galley, along with Agrippa (Francis de Wolff), whom Mark Antony has convinced to kill Caesar. However, Horsa has been re-captured and is now a slave on Caesar's galley. After killing the galley-master (Peter Gilmore), Horsa and the galley slaves kill Agrippa and his fellow assassins and swim to Egypt. Hengist, who had been sent out to fight Agrippa and was unaware of Horsa's presence on board, again takes the credit. Once at Cleopatra's palace, an Egyptian soothsayer (Jon Pertwee) warns Caesar of the plot to kill him, but Mark Anthony convinces Caesar not to flee. Instead, Caesar convinces Hengist to change places with him, since Cleopatra and Caesar have never met. On meeting, Cleopatra lures Hengist, who accidentally exposes both Cleopatra and Mark Anthony as would-be assassins. He and Caesar then ally with Horsa, and after defeating Cleopatra's bodyguard Sosages (Tom Clegg) in combat, Hengist and the party flee Egypt. Caesar is returned to Rome, only to be assassinated on the Ides of March. Horsa and Hengist return to Britain, and Mark Antony is left in Egypt to live "one long Saturday night" with Cleopatra.

Full Show Notes for Camillus - Noble Roman DictatorGreek Parallel - ThemistoclesNo Extant Parallel Essay - :(Important PeopleBrennus - Gallic chieftan, unscrupulous and forceful, but without much character development as Plutarch did for other villains (see, for example, Alexander of Pherae's character development in the Life of Pelopidas or Dionysius II's tyrannical character as developed in the Life of Dion). The Common (Ro)Man - Whether volunteering to give your wagon to Vestal Virgins or to take a risky message across enemy lines and back again, the common Romans do a great deal in this life. This creates a great parallel with the Life of Publicola, whose life features the brave deeds of so many Romans other than himself.Important PlacesArdea - Camillus's chosen spot of exileRome - What's in a city? When it's all been burned to the ground, should the Romans rebuild or colonize elsewhere?Allia - Battle v. The GaulsSutrium - An ally of Rome which the Tuscans besiege calling for unprecedented tactics on the part of the Romans.Key Virtues and Vicesφρόνησις - practical judgment - Not quite prudence, but the lower element of it that chooses the means most appropriate to the ends. His parallel, Themistocles, had this in spades, but Camillus is no slouch at planning and tactics, both political and military. Moderation - μετριότης (cf. 11 for lack of it in grieving)Boldness of Speech - παρρησία - This one often is on a knife's edge between vice and virtue. This is the same key word that Luke uses in Acts of the Apostles when describing the boldness with which the apostles preached about Jesus. Plutarch, writing after Luke and with no knowledge of the man, already recognizes  the long Greek history behind this word. Hatred - ἀπεχθεία - You will accrue allies, but you will also accrue enemies in doing worthy political work. Gentleness - ἥμερος (cf. 11) - Here one almost wishes his parallel were Pericles, though he is *not* as gentle as Pericles, so again Plutarch chose well in that parallel too (see next month for the Life of Fabius!)Kindliness - χρηστός (cf. 11) - Has at its root usefulness, and was a key virtue in the life of that obscure Greek, Pelopidas. Avoidance of Conflict - On several occasions Camillus seems to choose to do the easier thing, rather than having the difficult conversation or confrontation necessary to ensure the right action is taken.Justice - δικαιοσύνη - More important even than victory, Camillus's conscientious application of the law even to his enemies in war wins him admiration and trust on both sides of a conflict.Support the show

Emma Southon is a podcaster and ancient historian. Her new book A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women does exactly what it says on the tin: sidestepping the sidesteps of the long list of battles, consuls and generals that normally passes for the grand narrative of Rome to focus on the lives of women - including Vestal Virgins, sex workers, empresses, poets, and saints. She turns our preconceptions about the Roman world on its head to reveal a new story of the ancient world where ordinary individual lives take centre stage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to another episode on Styx and Bones with your ghost hosts Chelsea and Tenn!! In this episode we're talking all things about being a High Priestess in both the modern and ancient times. Chelsea is sharing her journey into becoming a High Priestess for King Hades while Tenn shares how it was done - taking a case study from looking at the Vestal Virgins. Your ghost hosts then talk about a question we have been avoiding like the plague itself... miasma in the practice and how it gets misinterpreted within spiritual communities. Join us as we chat about how we modernize our own hellenic practice, answers some listener Q+A and more! ===================================================== Want more episodes and to join a spiritual community? Don't forget to join our Patreon - $10 a months we go live, do more podcasts and share more information around witchcraft, archaeology and more! Sign up here ! Don't forget to like, subscribe and rate our podcast! READINGS, SOCIALS AND CLASSES BELOW: Interested in studying and growing your gifts in psychic mediumship?! We just came out with our beginners self-guided course - Foundations 1: Psychic Mediumship and You Check it out here: https://styxandbones.teachable.com/p/foundations-to-mediumship-course-one Watch Us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOUtwmf9GyCBGmB-nk_bQ4w Book a Reading with Us: https://www.crystalmoonclarity.com/services-crystal-moon-clarity Styx and Bones Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/styxandbonespodcast/ Shop Our Store Styx and Bones the Store: https://www.instagram.com/styxandbonesstore/ Chelsea's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clchthonicwitch/ Tenn's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dirtdiaries_ Music by LiteSaturation --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/styx-and-bones-podcast/support

Vesta, also known as Hestia in Greek mythology, is the goddess of the hearth, the keeper of the sacred flame, and also the guardian of your home and community. She is a goddess that keeps the sacred fires going in communities and in sacred places of worship.  Vesta was the first daughter of Kronos and Rhea. As the first born Olympian, Vesta was always first to be honored with gifts and sacrifices. She was very well loved and respected in ancient society. Do you know what the word “virgin” meant in the ancient world? In this episode, find out who the Vestal Virgins were and what their duties were as priestesses to Vesta. The asteroid, Vesta, was also named after this goddess. The surface of this asteroid looks like it is composed of volcanic rock which reflects the sunlight which is why she is the only asteroid visible with the naked eye. In astrology, Vesta represents your sexual energy outside of traditional union or marriage. Connect with the Goddesses:  https://www.goddesswitchwomb.com   Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goddesswitchwomb/   Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@goddesswitchwomb   Divine Feminine Membership: https://mysticharmonymysteryschool.teachable.com/p/membership

Stacey is an internationally respected pagan practitioner, Witch, author and activist whose passion is to make practical magic accessible to everyone. Stacey has also become somewhat of a ‘big-sister' to our humble podcast, we are always amazed at her wealth of wisdom and knowledge. We couldn't be happier that she is joining us today to share one of her new creations, her brand new book, Priestess Path which describes 13 ancient powerful lessons on building inner strength, available from the 2nd of August. We ask Stacey about what the role of a Priestess is, and what it may have looked like in ancient times- as well as in modern-day society. Stacey also shares her knowledge of The Oracles of Delphi, the Greek Priestesses of the ancient world, the Heireia, Celtic Priestesses, and the Vestal Virgins of Rome. Stacey's down-to-earth yet scholastic spiritual style, along with her skill of weaving ancient techniques to solve modern problems make her work unique and compelling, and her new book stays true to the cause. Show Stacey some love in the following places The Modern Witch website Priestess Path pre-sale   Stacey's Instagram handles TheModern Witch NatureLuster  Visit ⁠⁠AshaMoon⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ShannonCotterill ⁠⁠Have a witchy question to ask? Get in touch, we would love to hear from you! Follow us, and DM on Instagram ⁠⁠@turnsout_shesawitch⁠⁠ Presented by Shannon Cotterill & Laura Turner. Production & original music by Matt Turner ⁠⁠@turnzout_media⁠⁠ 

This podcast is a commentary and does not contain any copyrighted material of the reference source. We strongly recommend accessing/buying the reference source at the same time. ■Reference Source https://www.ted.com/talks/peta_greenfield_who_were_the_vestal_virgins_and_what_was_their_job ■Post on this topic (You can get FREE learning materials!) https://englist.me/55-academic-words-reference-from-peta-greenfield-who-were-the-vestal-virgins-and-what-was-their-job-ted-talk/ ■Youtube Video https://youtu.be/CQ-8Q5YiEE4 (All Words) https://youtu.be/eDiErVinESA (Advanced Words) https://youtu.be/_cAOD2vfv9w (Quick Look) ■Top Page for Further Materials https://englist.me/ ■SNS (Please follow!)

Episodio 5.16 de Las Cosas Que Hay Que Escuchar, en el cual enderezamos entuertos junto a Tappi Tikarrass, Lene Lovich, The Primitives, Stereo Total, That Dog, 50 Foot Wave, Snakefinger’s Vestal Virgins, Jorge Schussheim, The Andrew Sisters, Lisa Gerrard, Angels of Light, Tronco, Los Encargados, Shakespears Sister y Yazoo. Y, obviamente, todo el delirio habitual de Saurio y las voces que lo atormentan. Si quieren convidar con un cafecito ☕, pueden hacerlo acá: https://cafecito.app/saurio Programa emitido originalmente el 18 de junio de 2023 por FM La Tribu, 88.7, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Repite el 21 de junio de 2023 en Radio Asamblea FM 94.1, CABA, y el 20 y 24 de junio de 2023 en Radio de la Calle, FM 87.9, Bahía Blanca

Hello and welcome to episode three in our myth and folklore mini series. In this episode we are looking at the Vestal Virgins. So grab a cuppa and hit play! Instagram: @sagas_of_she Facebook: @sagasofshe Music Credit - Violin Huasteco - Jimena Contreras (YouTube Audio Library)

June 06 2023   The Witch Daily Show (https://www.witchdailyshow.com) is talking Vestal Virgins   Our sponsor today Is The Swallows (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1088001211/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=%22the+swallows%22+%22kristen+clanton%22&qid=1680267783&sr=8-1) and   (   Want to buy me a cup of coffee? Venmo: TonyaWitch - Last 4: 9226   Our quote of the day Is: ― “And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” ― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby   Headlines: (https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid033xcnuybu3URnZGMUM3dwBacDu8UJRmu6MoRdbtUFNFfxfrPC2j5ktkAP4jWgCKMBl&id=100057314903715)   Deck: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Tarot Deck ()   Other Sources: (https://www.wellandgood.com/butterfly-pea-flower-benefits/)   Magic of the day – Response of the day - Question of the day -   Thank you so much for joining me this morning, if you have any witch tips, questions, witch fails, or you know of news I missed, visit https://www.witchdailyshow.com or email me at thewitchdailypodcast@gmail.com If you want to support The Witch Daily Show please visit our patreon page https://www.patreon.com/witchdailyshow   Mailing Address (must be addressed as shown below) Tonya Brown 3436 Magazine St #460 New Orleans, LA 70115

Who got chosen to be a Vestal Virgin, and what was their job description? 

In this week's episode, Stephanie tells us all about some of the most powerful people in Ancient Rome - the Vestal Virgins. They were the priestesses of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth and the home. Listen now to learn about the mythology and politics that shaped this sacred order. - Thank you for listening Weirdos! Show the podcast some love by rating, reviewing, subscribing and sharing it today. Your support means so much to us. Let's stay in touch

December 11: Saint Damasus I, Pope c. 305–384 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of Archaeologists A dynamic pope mentors Jerome and embellishes catacombs Damasus reigned in the era when the popes died in their beds. The long winter of Roman oppression had ended. The arenas were empty. Christians were still occasionally martyred, but not in Rome. The many popes of the 200s who were exiled, murdered, or imprisoned were consigned to history by the late 300s. The Church was not merely legal by Damasus' time but was established, by decree, in 380 as the official religion of the Roman Empire. The slow-motion crumbling of paganism was such that Christian Senators and Pope Damasus petitioned the emperor that a prominent and famed Altar of Victory in the Senate be removed. The request was granted. No more Vestal Virgins, pagan priests reading entrails, a Pontifex Maximus, or auguries either. The Church was in the ascendancy. As Rome's military prowess deteriorated and the Eastern Empire was theologically mangled by the Arian controversy, the Bishop of Rome's importance swelled. Pope Damasus rode the first wave of these historical and religious trends. He was perhaps the first pope to rule with swagger. Damasus was of Spanish origins, and his father was likely a married priest serving in Rome's church of the martyr Saint Lawrence. Damasus was probably a deacon in that same church. He was elected Bishop of Rome in 366 but not without some controversy. A rival was aggressively supported by a violent minority who defamed Damasus, though they never removed him. Damasus cared for theology and held two synods in Rome, one of which excommunicated the Arian Bishop of Milan, making way for Saint Ambrose to later hold that see. Pope Damasus also sent legates to the First Council of Constantinople in 381, which reiterated and sharpened the language of the Creed developed at Nicea in 325. Perhaps Damasus' greatest legacy is not directly his own. He employed a talented young priest-scholar named Jerome as his personal secretary. It was Damasus who instructed Jerome to undertake his colossal, lifelong task of compiling from the original Greek and Hebrew texts a new Latin version of the Old and New Testaments to replace the poorly translated Old Latin Bibles then in use. The Vulgate, as Jerome's work is known, has been the official Bible of the Catholic Church since its completion. Description automatically generatedRome's theological ascendancy made its bishop the Empire's primary source and focus of unity. This, in turn, led to accusations, first aired in Damasus' time, that Rome's prelates lived in excessive grandeur. One pagan senator said mockingly that if he could live like a bishop he would gladly become a Christian. Similar charges would hound Rome throughout history. But Damasus strictly enforced a decree prohibiting clergy from accepting gifts from widows and orphans, and he himself lived a holy life. He restored his father's house church, now called Saint Lawrence in Damasus. The church still reflects its origins and is found inside of a larger building, just where a house church would have been located in ancient times. Pope Damasus also left a beautiful legacy in Rome's catacombs, a legacy which has only been fully appreciated due to modern archeological excavations. Damasus was very devoted to Rome's martyrs and embellished many of their tombs with brief Latin inscriptions. The papal crypt in the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus still houses the original marble slab engraved with Damasus' moving eulogy to the popes and martyrs entombed nearby. The epitaph ends with Damasus stating that although he wished to be buried in that crypt, he did not want to offend such holy remains with his presence. But Damasus composed his most tender epitaph for his own tomb: “He who walking on the sea could calm its bitter waves; He who gives life to dying seeds of the earth; He who was able to loose the mortal chains of death, and after three days' darkness could bring forth the brother for his sister Martha; He, I believe, will make Damasus rise anew from his ashes.” Damasus was clearly a Christian first and a pope second. Saint Damasus, you led the Church with a mixture of theological acumen, administrative competence, holy witness, and artistic flourish. Intercede in heaven for all who exercise headship in the Church to lead Her with attributes similar to your own.

The Partial Historians (Drs. Greenfield & Radford), educators and Roman history podcasters, join Lexie to chat about how the pandemic helped renew interest in Classics, differences between the Aussie/US educational systems and specializations, and behind the scenes of starting the Partial Historians podcast & what inspires them. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week's exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com!Follow The Partial Historians Podcast: https://partialhistorians.com/Check out the TED-ed The Vestal Virgins: https://www.ted.com/talks/peta_greenfield_who_were_the_vestal_virgins_and_what_was_their_jobCheck out TED-ed Augustus vs History: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/history-vs-augustus-alex-gendler-and-peta-greenfieldCheck out TED-ed Spartacus: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/from-slave-to-rebel-gladiator-the-life-of-spartacus-fiona-radford Find their book on the Roman Kings: https://highlands-press.com/books/Follow The Partial Historians on Twitter: https://twitter.com/p_historiansInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/partialhistorians/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepartialhistoriansSupport them on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/partialhistorians  Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds. Get exclusive bonus content (ad free episodes, early releases, and experimental content) on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy 6th birthday to the Blood, Sweat and Tears (2016). Join Lia and our favorite International Correspondent, Lexi, in unpacking the symbolism and Easter eggs found in BTS's iconic music video. Do people in your life ever dismiss your BTS love as supporting "some stupid boy band?" First, ew. You get to enjoy and celebrate WHATEVER brings you joy, friend. But secondly, while we love a surface-level banger like Butter...when the guys go deep, they tunnel into the depths of human duality and draw on influences from folks like Nobel-Prize winner Herman Hesse and the gnostic mystical concept of Abraxas. So if you ever want to "well, actually," a BTS naysayer, tune in and bulk up your argument.Show notes:The Music VideosBTS (방탄소년단) '피 땀 눈물 (Blood Sweat & Tears)' Official MVBTS (防弾少年団) '血、汗、涙 -Japanese Ver.-' Official MVBTS (방탄소년단) 'ON' Official MVBTS (방탄소년단) 'ON' Kinetic Manifesto Film : Come PrimaBTS (방탄소년단) 'IDOL' Official MVBTS (방탄소년단) 'Butter' Official MVAgust D '대취타' MV (Daechwita)The Art:The Fall of the Rebel AngelsPieter Bruegel the Elder (1562)Hieronymus BoschThe Lament for IcarusHerbert James Draper (1898)PietàMichelangelo (1498-1499)A veiled Vestal VirginRaffaelle Monti (1846-1847)The books:Demian (Hermann Hesse) - Mere Mortals Book ReviewThus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None by Friedrich Nietzsche The Music:Bach's Mass in B MinorBuxtehude's Passacaglia in D MinorThe Mythology:Michael (Archangel)ApolloAbraxasIcarusHyakinthos (Hyacinthus)Zephyr (Zephyros)The Miscellaneous:[ENG] 161012 [BANGTAN BOMB] 'Blood Sweat & Tears' MV Reaction by BTSBTS - Blood Sweat and Tears - ParodyLia's husband's audio she didn't recognize

Or Confusing Warping, Unbreakable Bods, Gross Nightmares, Waistcoatal Nerds, Reading Hill, Scary Shack.

It's another BONUS Patron-curated episode! For this one, we asked our Patrons to send in their favorite INSTRUMENTAL song. No singers?? No problem!! Songs featured in this episode: Waltzinblack - The Stranglers; Jessica - The Allman Brothers Band; Fun To Be Happy - Love Tractor; Groovy Delivery Boy - Frank DeVol; Fracture (Live) - King Crimson; The Köln Concert, Part IIc - Keith Jarrett; La Femme d'Argent - Air; Brendan #1 - Fugazi; Pacifica - Los Straitjackets; What Does Your Soul Look Like - DJ Shadow; Astradyne - Ultravox; Sandusky - Uncle Tupelo; Roygbiv - Boards of Canada; Larks Tongues in Aspic Parts 1 & 2 - King Crimson; Quilombo - Steroid Maximus; Straight No Chaser - Thelonious Monk; Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag - Pigbag; Ekute - Pino Palladino & Blake Mills; Lester Leaps In - The Monochrome Set; Slim Jenkins' Place - Booker T. & The MGs; Mosh, Don't Pass The Guy - Frank Black; Move - Snakefinger's Vestal Virgins; Metal Machine Music - Lou Reed; Vuscalli (The Porcupine) - Humbert

I wanted to do an episode that focused on Rome in the same sort of format I had done with my past Greek Periphery episodes. Though, my knowledge on Roman history is quite rusty at best, so I wanted to enlist some help to present this episode. For this I turned to Dr Fiona Radford and Dr Peta Greenfield from the Partial Historians podcast. Unfortunately, the timing didn't line up with the series of Periphery episodes I had done, but never the less I still wanted to present this look at Rome. So, I decided to present this episode as part of the interview series where we will take a quick break from our narrative.Like I said this episode is done with a similar idea as the past Greek Periphery episodes where we look back to some of the earliest times in the region we are focusing on. We then move forward exploring the tales and myths surrounding the foundations before then turning to what more tangible lines of evidence tells us. This will then see discussion move into areas where we then have literary accounts that help provide an idea of what was developing. I thought it would be interesting to focus on the city of Rome, rather than the larger regions we had done before, since Rome is such a well-known city of the ancient world. Though, I also wanted to compare its developments to what was taking place in Greece around the same periods.  In this episode with Dr Greenfield and Dr Radford from the Partial Historians we follow this same formula where we then look at parallels and compare to what was taking place in Greece to help provide some context to the developments in Rome. Instead of looking at Rome over a series of episodes like with the previous periphery episodes we followed the foundations all the way through to the beginning of the republic in this talk stretching for just over an hour and a half. This also coincides with roughly the same period we brought all our other looks at the wider Greek world up to.  Dr Fiona Radford is an expert on Rome on film and wrote her thesis on Kubrick's Spartacus. Her research interest in film makes her an exponent of not only Ancient History, but also Reception Studies. Dr Radford's work has taken her across the globe and into rarely viewed archives.Dr Peta Greenfield is an expert on the Vestal Virgins, a collective of six priestesses whose aedes (temple) was located at the edge of the Roman forum. Her research interests include: the intersection between religion and politics in Rome, the Late Republic (c. 150 BC – 31 BC) and Augustan Period (c. 31 BC – AD 14), and the role of women.Together both Dr Greenfield and Dr Radford produce and present the Partial historians podcast were they discuss, spar, and laugh their way through different aspects of the Roman world.They would love to have you along for the ride! And you can find them where ever you get your podcasts.Partial Historians website Twitter Facebook Instagram iTunes Spotify Support the show

In Roman mythology, the twin brothers Romulus and Remus created the city of Rome. The killing of Remus by his twin, along with other tales from their story, have inspired artists throughout the ages. Since ancient times, the image of a she-wolf suckling the twins has been a symbol of the city of Rome and the ancient Romans. The story of the twin brothers is believed to have been told before the founding of Rome. This is because the earliest written account of the myth dates back to the 3rd century BC.The pair were the children of Mars and Rhea, and their story is often told by authors such as Virgil wherein they were born in order to create Rome. Modern scholarship approaches the stories of Romulus and Remus, with the retelling being based on the various versions presented by Roman historians. Other narratives suggest that these are popular or folkloric traditions, while some remain inscrutable in their meanings.They were often described by poets and painters to be well built, tall and had the classic physical features of the classical Mediterranean man. They had dark curly hair and physically dominant in stature.They are descendants of Aeneas, who were responsible for discovering Italy. Romulus and Remus were related to Aeneas through Numitor, who was the king of Alba Longa and their mother's father. Before they were conceived, his reign was usurped by Amulius, who was the brother of Mars.Amulius inherited the treasury of Alba Longa from Numitor. He wanted to avoid a conflict of power, so he killed the male heirs of Numitor and forced Rhea to become a Vestal Virgin. Vestal Virgins were priestesses of Vesta, patron goddess of the hearth; they were charged with keeping a sacred fire that was never to be extinguished and to take vows of chastity.Some legends suggest that Mars appeared and laid with Rhea, while others suggest that Hercules was her partner. It is also possible that she was raped by an unknown man, and that she gave birth to her sons. It was custom for a Vestal Virgin to be condemned to death if she betrayed her vows, however, since Amulius feared the wrath of Hercules or Mars, he did not want to stain his hands with the blood of her children.Amulius ordered the execution of the twin brothers by throwing them into the Tiber River. He believed that since they would die without being killed by the sword, they would be spared from punishment by the gods. He ordered a servant to carry out the death sentence, but in every scenario of this myth, the servant takes pity on the twins and spares their lives. The servant, then, places the twins into a basket onto the River Tiber, and the river carries the boys to safety.Being characters that were exclusive to the Roman mythology and among the few characters that were not influenced by the Greeks, they do not have any alternate names.  The city of Rome was named after the victorious brother Romulus who fought with his brother over the location of the new city.The twins were not blessed with any powers or super human capabilities. They however had established themselves as leaders with the command over the people within their armies.The story of Romulus and Remus have been told and retold from various perspectives in modern cinema, television and have inspired numerous books and novels. There have been claims that the biblical story of Cain and Able was heavily inspired by the legend of Romulus and Remus.Read about them at https://mythlok.com/romulus-remus/

Sophie (age 7) and Ellie (age 5) tell the story of gruesome executions from history – feeding Christians to the lions, the punishment of the sack, decimation of soldiers and more. We start with the punishment of the sack. Romans kept this punishment for people who killed their father. They would put the person inside a large sack. Then they would put a live monkey, a snake, a dog and a rooster in the sack too. The sack was tied up with everyone inside. They it was thrown into the river so that everyone drowned. Next we tell of how the Christians were punished by the Romans. The Romans wanted Christians to agree that there's was not the only God but there was also the Roman gods – Jupiter and Venus and others. Christians would not agree. So many of them were taken to the Colosseum in Rome. This is where Gladiator fights happened. The Christians had no swords or armour. The Romans had wild animals like lions and tigers. They had not been fed for ages so they were now hungry. The Romans let them loose on the Christians. The Lions and tigers ate the Christians. However, in Roman times it was not only the Romans who were fierce. There was a Roman General called Crassus. He was very rich. He led an army to invade Parthia. There was a battle fought in the desert. Instead of attacking the Romans, the Parthians attacked the wagons with the water in them. They broke open the barrels of water and the water drained into the desert. The Romans had to surrender because they had no water. When the Parthian Emperor had the Crassus in his hands, he poured molten gold down Crassus' throat to mock his wealth. The Romans knew that losing battles was a bad idea. So they had a way of making sure that their soldiers did not run away. If a unit ran away in battle then after the battle there was a terrible punishment for them. Everyone in the unit had to draw straws. Some of the straws were long, but some were short. There were nine long ones to one short one. When you were drawing the straws you could not tell if the straw was long or short. Everyone who had a long straw too a club and stood in two lines facing each other. Everyone who had a short straw had to run between the two lines. The people with a short straw were then beaten to death by the people with a long straw. They called this decimation which means killing one in ten. It wasn't only men and soldiers who faced terrible executions. The Romans had priestesses called Vestal Virgins. They kept a sacred fired in Rome burning. They lived in luxury but they were not allowed to have boyfriends or get married. If one of them did get a boyfriend then she faced a terrible punishment. It was not allowed to kill a Vestal Virgin. So she was locked in an underground room without any food and left there to starve to death! PATRONS' CLUB We had so many stories this week that we have saved some of them for our Patrons' episode. We have there a follow on episode. It has stories of death by rat, death by elephant, death by red hot poker, death by cannon and death by being hung, drawn and quartered. You can join at www.patreon.com/historystorytime.    

➡️Watch this interview on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/channel/UCrON_5cqOUnFfQSp_7LaBNg ✨Some Vesta stuff Bear & I chatted about during this interview! ➡️The worship of Hestia / Vesta in Ancient Greece ➡️The role of the Vestal Virgins during the Roman Empire ➡️ Vesta's placement in the natal chart relating to literal theme of fire, but also personal autonomy and sovernity, queerness, sacred sexuality, religious trauma, and the rejection of patriarchal relationship norms ➡️ How Vesta teaches us to “tend to the alter” & develop a spiritual practice ➡️The creation of a safe home environment where one can truly feel like they can be themselves

We're starting season 2, with the life of the Vestal Virgins. In this episode we learn about what life was like for the virgins of Vesta and how they had to give up their lives in servitude to their goddess.

Photo: Triumph of Chastity: unicorns draw a carriage bearing a female figure seated next to a sphinx and holding a standard, Vestal virgins walk behind the carriage, round temple of Vesta at right, from the series 'The Triumphs of Petrarch' .The New John Batchelor ShowCBS Audio Network@Batchelorshow#CivilWar?: The Roman Pontificate, the Vestal Virgins, and Court-packing. Michael Vlahos Johns Hopkins @JHUWorldCrisis https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/democrats-e2-80-99-court-packing-two-step/ar-BB1fJpJU

In Episode XI, we warm up by the hearth and bust out the knitting needles with Hestia! Join us as we look at her sacred donkey, Hestia vs. Vesta and the incredible Vestal Virgins! Learn all about how the Vestals worked miracles to prove their virginity or got buried alive! Also, tune in for an extended chat about forgotten gods and where (we think) they are now! When God Was Queer is hosted by Dakota St. Clare, Vince Vance & Daphne Malfitano. Subscribe. Rate. Review. Pleeeeeease. Follow us on IG & TikTok for all the updates and info @whengodwasqueer --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/whengodwasqueer/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/whengodwasqueer/support

 Numa Pompilius, a man whom never wanted to be King, a man with a deep faith in the Gods topped off with a philosophy abhorrently against an aggression and anger driven society forever at war depriving Rome's citizens of more Godly and more peaceful societal improvements. If it's said, Romulus gifted the Romans with a grand military tradition and supporting institutions which would last for a millennia, then Numa as a counter to military traditions, gifted the Romans grand religious traditions and supporting religious institutions, which would last for a millennia or more also. Hope you enjoy! Head over to our blog and leave some comments, lets get the conversation started.Chris & RyanSupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=RLVZ3VNNPSRAL)

The Temple of Vesta was integrated into the adjacent House and Sanctuary of the Vestal Virgins. The only remains of the temple itself are a modest mound of concrete however there is a reconstruction of part of the circular temple wall with adjacent columns that give some sense of the shape and scale of the temple building. The area served as both accommodation and a religious site for only six vestal virgins and provided a place where they could keep the sacred fire alight – a key part of their service to Vesta.  Much of the underlying Sanctuary structure dates back to at least 150 BCE but it is likely that there were earlier temples and housing here as the tradition goes back to at least 400 years earlier. The area has been rebuilt and expanded multiple times over the course of the empire.  At one time the large complex housed over 60 rooms, had its own well, courtyard and altar that presumably catered to the Vestal Virgins, their religious ceremonies and their large retinue of slaves and assistants. Vestals entered service between the ages of 6 and 10 and remained in position for a minimum of 30 years. They had special privileges such as enjoying special seating at major events, they were able to own property, any injury to them was punishable by death, they could free condemned prisoners simply by touching them and they had complete right of way while moving around Rome and were aided in this by having a lictor walk ahead of them clearing the way.  

Priestesses of Vesta, Goddess of hearth, home and family, the College of Vestal Virgins were Rome’s only full-time priesthood. They numbered only six and were selected from noble Roman families at an early age, between six and 10 years old. They would tend the sacred fire in the Temple of Vesta and remain virgins for the duration of their tenure, which would stretch long into womanhood, lasting at least 30 years. Their importance to Rome was paramount and throughout this ancient civilisation's pagan history, the Vestal Virgins remained right at the heart of Roman society. But things were not always plain sailing for the Vestals during their 1,000 year history... I was delighted to be joined by a leading light on this subject Peta Greenfield to talk through the history of the Vestals. From the importance of fire and water for the cult to the infamous Vestal punishment of 'incestum' Peta explained the history behind all in this brilliant chat.Quick note:Octavia was Octavian / Augustus' sister.Livia was Augustus' wife. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Aside from possibly Greece’s Oracle of Delphi, the Vestal Virgins devoted to the Roman goddess Vesta, ruler of the Hearth, are the most famous ancient cult in European history. Yet most people don’t really know much about this esteemed group, even though they were one of the most enduring organizations in Roman history.

WANTED: Child to remain a virgin for the next 30 years, to be taken from family and devote all of daily life to the job, failure to succeed will lead to death by being buried alive. If this was a job advertisement today people would be horrified but this was essentially the job of the vestal virgins. In this episode Jen will tell you the story of one of the worst jobs in history. For ad free and exclusive content become a Patron at Patreon,com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 18I this mini episode Charlotte Appleyard discusses the lives of Vestal Virgin's, priestesses who enjoyed a semi - divine status and privileges unknown to most women, but were also bound to live 30 years of celibacy and forced to serve in the temple performing rites and maintaining the sacred flame. If the flame was ever extinguished these women would face a fatal punishment. For visual sources follow us on instagram @themuseumoffeminintyResourceshttps://research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=465546&partId=1https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/magazine/2018/11-12/vestal-virgins-of-ancient-rome/https://www.ancient.eu/Vesta/#romanhistory #vestalvirgins #thehistoryofrome #womeninrome #romanwomen #priestesses #britishmuseum #historyofart #arthistory #artpodcast #historypodcast

Vesta was the Roman Priestess of Hearth, family and home from Ancient Rome. This is a chat about the role of Priestess, the fact her Vestal Virgins existed in a martial patriarchal society with very firm legislation surrounding their roles. Interesting to reflect on how so many natural shakti filled women are somehow still in fear of opening to it fully....

Welcome to a day in the life of an ancient Roman matrona. Now that we've learned a bit about Rome's overarching history, woken up, visited the bathroom, and gotten dressed and ready for the day in Part 1, let's explore our domus, meet our husband, and talk about some of our rights under the law. We'll find out what women are doing for work and take a trip to the House of Vesta to meet the Vestal Virgins, who are some of the most powerful women in Rome. For a transcript, a list of my sources, and lots of images, check out my website. To support the show and get extra content and goodies, go to my Patreon page or explore my Etsy merchandise shop. Music featured comes courtesy of Michael Levy. Thanks to our Rome expert guests Dr. Rhiannon Evans, main guest on the podcast Emperors of Rome, and Dr. Rad and Dr. G of The Partial Historians.

The Vestal Virgins carried out some of the most important rituals in the Roman Empire, and their temple was revered and unique in its structure and function. You can still see the remains of it in the Roman Forum, but as with many Roman buildings there’s less to it than meets the eye. Guest: Dr Peta Greenfield (Public Historian, co-host of ‘The Partial Historians’)

The Vestals were an order of priestesses who were sacred to Rome, and were respected and referred as symbols of a safe and stable empire. They had the all-important duty of maintaining the sacred flame, and if it were extinguished, it would be a sign of impending disaster. Guest: Dr Peta Greenfield (Public Historian, co-host of 'The Partial Historians' podcast)

It feels only right to follow up taking about Vestal Virgins with talking about Ancient Greek Prostitutes. Phryne, Lamia, Aspasia- all actual women who ascended to legend by being the best kind of ho. Actress/Writer and longtime #Mythfit Weslie Lechner joins Paul and Sarah as they dive into the world's oldest profession. Support the show by leaving a Rating & Review and be sure to visit www.dragonwagonshop.com for awesome Mythunderstood shirts and mugs! Mythunderstood is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Learn more at www.dragonwagonradio.com  

It's the first half of the season one finale, and wow! there's a lot to discuss. In episode 101A, we talk everything from "tool and die" to Vestal Virgins as MacPherson leads Pete, Myka, and Artie on a dangerous chase. Plus, special shout-out to friend of the show and writer of WH13 Benjamin Raab, for offering a few corrections and behind-the-scenes info. Look forward to Part 2 as soon as we get it done this Tuesday! Lastly, we love our German intro recording by Patreon supporter Numo. You can introduce us, too, by checking out our Patreon tiers :)

播音：张晨星编辑：张晨星

In this special guest episode, Peta and I discuss a few aspects in regards to the role of women in the religious sphere of Rome and compare/contrast it with ancient Greece Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2018/10/special-guest-episode-on-roman-women.html   Peta Greenfield Co-Host of the Partial Historians Podcast Website: https://partialhistorians.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepartialhistorians/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/p_historians and https://twitter.com/peta_greenfield TED-Ed Video: Who were the Vestal Virgins, and what was their job? - Peta Greenfield

Did you know that in ancient Rome there was a cult of ladies who protected an eternal flame, which wasn't weird at all? This episode covers basic facts about who the Vestal Virgins were, and their role in Ancient Rome.

"Friends, Romans, Travelers, lend me your earbuds." Resurrect the ancient rubble of Rome's center — the world of Vestal Virgins, passionate orators, conquering generals, and sleazy emperors. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion map at https://www.ricksteves.com/audiotours.

"Friends, Romans, Travelers, lend me your earbuds." Resurrect the ancient rubble of Rome's center — the world of Vestal Virgins, passionate orators, conquering generals, and sleazy emperors. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion map at http://www.ricksteves.com/audiotours.

Britannia ushers in the Future of Valiant by taking us to the past, as we follow the adventures of Detectioner Antonius Axia and the Vestal Virgins.   This is a very different sort of book from Valiant, that seems to have very little ties to the Valiant Universe, and that presents a lot of possibilities, and a lot to discuss. We talk about all the ways that we loved this book. Spoiler Alert! We are going to discuss all plot points.

In this episode I talk with Lorraine Carey and we talk about Grand Cayman and the Cayman Islands, island fever compared to the rat race, being a reading specialist for children of all ages, rock star readers in kindergarten, Arizona and the Superstition Mountains, Rome, Pompey and Vestal Virgins, Pachentro Italy, gypsy legends and curses. She likes to read the classics, Tolkien, Brent Legg "The Last Librarian", Teema Maria Lacobia, "The Queen of Vampires", YA author Amanda Hawking, Find her at http://www.lorrainecarey.com   Lorraine Carey is a veteran children's reading specialist, teacher and an International Award-Winning Author. She has taught in many states in the US and currently is providing reading services for students at a private school on Grand Cayman, where she lives with her husband. Five years ago she was a city gal, living in Orange County, California, where life was very different from the one she lives in now. Trading in her fashionable heels for flip-flops was quite a change, but led to a lifestyle that allowed for a writing career to begin. Her love for paranormal stories and urban legends began at a young age, when staying up all night to watch spooky movies or reading a scary book started a lifelong passion. Published novels include: Losing Ground, a short memoir, followed by Mysteries of the Red Coyote Inn, Out of the Ashes, Jonathan's Locket and The Last Vestal Virgin. All of these novels are paranormal with a mix of historical fiction, woven with urban legends. Her most recent novel, Beloved Sacrifice, is a Supernatural Thriller for Young Adults to Adults. As a bonus, Mysteries of the Red Coyote Inn and Jonathan's Locket have free downloadable comprehension worksheets on her website for educators, or parents. Her latest novel, A Rock Star Reader by Kindergarten, is an educational guide for parents of young children to help their child achieve many of the pre-reading concepts necessary to be a successful reader by the time they reach kindergarten. When not writing you can find Lorraine reading, beach- hopping, snorkeling, or boating around the island with her husband on their boat, the Angelica.

This week: A special "fun fact" edition!

The team discuss Up Pompeii S01E01, 'Vestal Virgins'.

A winner of the Prix de Rome in 1704, Jean Raoux became famous for his depictions of Vestal Virgins. These paintings described the virtues of chastity and maidenhood, an image he often contrasted with that of the modern bourgeois women, whose excesses and narcissism were at odds with moral virtue. Raoux’s reputation became such that the philosopher Voltaire described him as the equal of the great Dutch painter Rembrandt. Dido and Aeneas suggests Raoux’s interest in Rembrandt and other Northern European painters. Note the attention paid to particular surfaces, especially the exquisite rendering of the satin (an effect for which Raoux was well known), and its broad range of lights and darks. These influences are distilled with Raoux’s observations of Italian painting, made while resident in Rome, where he studied and copied the finest moments of classical antiquity and Renaissance painting. The scene itself, a moment from Virgil’s account of the fateful love of Dido, the Queen of Carthage, and the founder of Rome, Aeneas, is rendered in terms closer to everyday life than classical antiquity.