Day 6. The Sacred and the Sensual: Venus and the Vestal Virgins

Today is a day of contrasts. After days of engaging with Rome's more liberated and open aspects concerning love and sexuality, I'm pulled toward the spiritual centers of the city to understand the other end of the spectrum. How does a society so enthralled with hedonism also manage to revere chastity? This question guides me to explore the symbology of the goddess Venus and the sacred commitment of the Vestal Virgins.

My first stop is a temple dedicated to Venus. The air is thick with the scent of incense and roses, offerings to the goddess of love, beauty, and sexuality. Statues of Venus display her in various states of undress, each more captivating than the last, encapsulating the Roman ideal of beauty and eroticism. Worshipers range from young couples seeking blessings for love to older individuals seeking a spark in their matrimonial life. Here, Venus is not just a goddess but also a societal symbol embodying the Romans' views on love and sexuality—uninhibited, celebrated, and integral to human experience.

From there, I make my way to the temple of Vesta, home to the Vestal Virgins. In stark contrast to the lively atmosphere at Venus's temple, here the ambiance is serene, imbued with a sense of sanctity and reverence. The Vestal Virgins are priestesses of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth, home, and family. They are bound to a life of celibacy, committed to maintaining the sacred fire within the temple. A failure to keep this flame alive or breaking their vow of chastity could bring grave consequences not just for them but for the Roman state, according to belief. They are highly respected and are even given privileges that most women in Rome could never enjoy, like the ability to own property.

What strikes me is not just the coexistence but the reverence Rome holds for both these contradictory ideals. On one hand, Venus embodies the sensual and the sexual, celebrated through festivals like the Bacchanalia and reflected in their literature and arts. On the other hand, the Vestal Virgins symbolize purity, chastity, and a different kind of sacredness that is not any less important to the Romans. These women are even considered to bring good fortune and their presence is sought after at public events.

As I retire to my inn for the night, I'm amazed at the spectrum of human experience that Rome manages to encompass within its spiritual and social framework. Here, the sensual and the sacred are not at odds but exist in a harmonious balance, each providing a different lens through which to understand the complex tapestry of human emotion and desire. It is a society that doesn’t push its members into restrictive boxes but allows for an exploration of the range of what it means to be human—whether in pursuit of earthly pleasures or heavenly peace.