Trial of the Vestal Virgins (114–113 BC)

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Denarius of Lucius Cassius Longinus, 63 BC. The obverse depicts Vesta. On the reverse, a voter is casting a ballot inscribed V, for uti rogas ("as you propose"). Vesta and the voter are allusions to the election of Longinus Ravilla as prosecutor in the Vestals' case of 113. L. Cassius Longinus, denarius, 63 BC, RRC 413-1.jpg
Denarius of Lucius Cassius Longinus, 63 BC. The obverse depicts Vesta. On the reverse, a voter is casting a ballot inscribed V, for uti rogas ("as you propose"). Vesta and the voter are allusions to the election of Longinus Ravilla as prosecutor in the Vestals' case of 113.

Aemilia, Licinia and Marcia were Roman vestal Virgins, who were prosecuted for having broken the vow of chastity in two famous trials between 115 and 113 BC. [2] The first trial was conducted by the Pontifex Maximus Metellus Delmaticus, who sentenced Aemilia to death in 114 BC. The decision to spare the other two vestals triggered outrage and led to a follow-up trial headed by Cassius Longinus Ravilla. [3] Licinia and Marcia were subsequently put to death as well. The trials were heavily influenced by the political background and network of the participants.

Contents

The individuals

Aemilia was a member of the patrician gens Aemilia. Licinia was a member of the plebeian gens Licinia and the daughter of Gaius Licinius Crassus. In 123, her dedication of an altar was cancelled by the pontiffs because it had been made without the approval of the people. Marcia was a member of the plebeian gens Marcia and possibly the daughter of Quintus Marcius Rex, praetor in 144 BC.

The trials

In December 114 BC, the vestals Aemilia, Marcia and Licinia were tried for incestum . [4] Reportedly, Aemilia had initially been seduced by Lucius Veturius. After this, she arranged for Marcia and Licinia to have sexual relations with Lucius Veturius' male friends. Aemilia and Licinia had multiple lovers, while Marcia had a monogamous relationship. The three vestals were prosecuted after being reported to the authorities by their slave Manius, who had helped in exchange for manumission he never received. According to Manius, the affairs of the vestals was widely tolerated within the Roman aristocracy. The trial was a great scandal in contemporary Rome. Aemilia was found guilty and sentenced to death by the Pontifex Maximus Lucius Caecilius Metellus Dalmaticus. Licinia and Marcia were both acquitted.

Denarius of Quintus Cassius Longinus, 55 BC. Libertas is portrayed on the obverse. The reverse is a depiction of the Temple of Vesta, where Longinus Ravilla held the trial in 113. On the left is a voting urn, and a ballot (tabella) is on the right. It is inscribed A C for Absolvo Condemno ("acquitted" or "condemned"), a further reference to the trial. Q. Cassius Longinus, denarius, 55 BC, RRC 428-3.jpg
Denarius of Quintus Cassius Longinus, 55 BC. Libertas is portrayed on the obverse. The reverse is a depiction of the Temple of Vesta, where Longinus Ravilla held the trial in 113. On the left is a voting urn, and a ballot (tabella) is on the right. It is inscribed A C for AbsolvoCondemno ("acquitted" or "condemned"), a further reference to the trial.

The acquittal of Marcia and Licinia created public outrage in Rome because of Manius' testimony that the sexual crimes of the vestals had been an open secret and tolerated among the aristocracy, and the public interpreted the outcome as a case of corruption among the elite. The case against Licinia and Marcia was therefore reopened the following year by the tribune Sextus Peducaeus, who took the unusual step of transferring the case from the pontiff to Lucius Cassius Longinus Ravilla, who was known for his severity. Licinia was defended by the orator Lucius Licinius Crassus. [6]

The second trial ended in a guilty verdict for both Licinia and Marcia who were both sentenced to be executed by being buried alive. During the trial, several men were implicated as the alleged lovers of the vestals and prosecuted. This involved several prominent people and the process has by some been interpreted as political. Among those men implicated were the orator Marcus Antonius, who was acquitted. [7]

After the trial, several rituals were conducted to clean the holy fire of Vesta from the pollution which was believed to have soiled it because of the crimes. A new temple to Venus was constructed, and four men were buried alive in the Forum Boarium. [6]

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References

  1. ↑ Crawford, Roman Republican Coinage, p. 440.
  2. ↑ Friedrich Münzer: Marcius 114). In: Paulys Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft (RE). Band XIV,2, Stuttgart 1930, Sp. 1601 f.
  3. ↑ Gruen, Erich S. (1968). "M. Antonius and the Trial of the Vestal Virgins". Rheinisches Museum für Philologie. 111 (1): 59–63. ISSN   0035-449X. JSTOR   41244355.
  4. ↑ Gruen, Erich S. (1968). "M. Antonius and the Trial of the Vestal Virgins". Rheinisches Museum für Philologie. 111 (1): 60. ISSN   0035-449X. JSTOR   41244355.
  5. ↑ Crawford, Roman Republican Coinage, p. 452.
  6. 1 2 PD-icon.svg  Smith, William, ed. (1870). "Licinia (2)". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology .
  7. ↑ Gruen, Erich S. (1968). "M. Antonius and the Trial of the Vestal Virgins". Rheinisches Museum für Philologie. 111 (1): 63. ISSN   0035-449X. JSTOR   41244355.

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