The Casa delle Vestali, situated in the heart of the Roman Forum and currently off-limits to visitors, was home to the virgins who tended the sacred flame in the adjoining Tempio di Vesta.
The six priestesses were selected from patrician families when aged between six and 10 to serve in the temple for 30 years. If the flame in the temple went out the priestess responsible would be flogged, and if she lost her virginity she would be buried alive, since her blood couldn't be spilled. The offending man would be flogged to death.
