Finding the Best Reproduction of the Temple of Vesta

A Writer’s Journey

No matter how in-depth your research is, the work of a historical fiction author is never done. There’s always more to learn. At some point, you have to admit you did all you could and hope for the best.

I had a few questions about how the temple of Vesta used to look but couldn’t find answers in my research. Today, the temple is just a hole in the ground and a few columns, and all the reproductions of the temple conflict with each other. I read as much as I could about the temple and conceeded that some knowledge had been lost.

Recently, I ran across a new source of knowledge. Numerous Roman coins featured the temple of Vesta on their backs. Since the coins were made while the temple still existed, they are the most accurate images we have.

Using the coins and the research I have already done, I was able to figure out which of the reproductions shown below is the most accutate.

As you can see, there are subtle differences in each of these pictures. The roofs are all different. Some have a grate surrounding them, some don’t. Some are tall and narrow, others are squat. Some have doors, some are just open, and a few even have three doors.

Here are a few coins I found. You’ll notice the roof is unanimously one level. Some of the reproductions have a second level that is subtle enough that it wouldn’t show on a coin, but picture 5 is clearly out of the running. (Scroll down to read more.)

All the roofs have something on the top. Somethimes it looks like a statue, though it’s hard to tell because it’s a different shape on all of them. None of the reproductions have this. Most likely, the coins are actually depicting smoke coming out the top of the temple.

I’ve always thought the fire was bigger than most pictures make it out to be (about the size of an average camp fire). This would have to be the case for the fire to produce that much smoke. This prooves 2., 4., and 5. are inacurate.

The roofs also have something coming out of the sides. Only temple 1. has that.

I can’t tell whether the temple had one door, three doors, or no doors. I always pictured it without a door, which is what it looks like on the coins, but that’s probably too much detail to put on a coin.

I read the temple had a grate around it, which cancels out #5., but I also know it has a wall behind that grate because the wall still exists, which cancels out #2.

With all this evidence I can conclude that….

Number 1. is the most accurate reproduction.

Click here to see more pictures of Vestal Virgins on my Facebook page.

On A Writers Journey, aspiring novelist Teralyn Rose Pilgrim talks about the excitements and disappointments that go along with her budding career. Currently agents are looking at her historical fiction about Rome’s Vestal Virgins.
teralynpilgrimm.blogspot.com

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