Vestal Virgin(s) Aemilia

The veiled woman depicted on this Late Republican coin is generally believed to be a Vestal Virgin named Aemilia. We’re not sure which Vestal Aemilia is supposed to be shown on this coin, as we know that at least two women of the Aemilia family were chosen to serve as a Vestal Virgin. The moneyer of this coin, M. Lepidus Aemilius, struck the coin in 61 B.C. and probably portrayed one of the Vestal Virgins Aemilia on the front of it. However, is this veiled woman a Vestal Virgin Aemilia and if so, why was one (or possibly both) of these virgins chosen? It turns out that these two virgin family members of M. Lepidus Aemilius have contrasting stories: one story is great, the other not so much. But first, why an image of a Vestal Virgin?

Vestal Virgins were selected from prominent families by the chief priest between the ages of 6 and 10 years. To be chosen was life-changing, as Vestal Virgins had important duties and were sworn to celibacy for 30 years. But at least they were freed from the social obligations to marry and bear children. Vestal Virgins were priestesses of Vesta, goddess of the hearth, and held the important task of maintaining Vesta’s sacred fire. This eternal flame wasn’t allowed to die out, as it guaranteed Rome’s safety and prosperity. At least, that's what the Romans believed.

But there was, however, an instance in which the fire did die out. In Roman Antiquities, Dionysius of Halicarnassus describes such a story in which one of our Aemilias played a major role. This Vestal Virgin Aemilia was responsible for the pupil that negligently allowed the flame to be extinguished. In an act of desperation she prayed to Vesta and then placed her linen garment over the altar. This prayer and sacrifice caused the flame to reignite once again. Performing these acts is how she miraculously rekindled the sacred fire of Vesta. Because we don’t know if or when this great deed took place, the Aemilia in Dionysius of Halicarnassus story is considered a legendary Vestal Virgin, not a historical one. As mentioned earlier, this miracle isn’t the only story associated with a Vestal named Aemilia. On a later date, her co-priestess and namesake managed to get herself involved in a sex scandal. This Aemilia couldn’t keep her promise of living a life without sex. And she wasn’t the only Vestal Virgin that had broken her vow of chastity. Together with two other Vestal Virgins Licinia and Marica, Aemilia was put on trial for her sexual crime in 114 B.C. The scandalous trial resulted in death charges for all three Vestal Virgins. They were buried alive, as the blood of a Vestal Virgin couldn’t be spilled.

However, it is possible that the coin is referencing a third unknown Aemilia who became a Vestal Virgin perhaps shortly before this coin was issued. This is just speculation, as there are no records of this supposedly third Vestal Virgin Aemilia.