Trial of the Vestal Virgins (114–113 BC)

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.

The decision to spare the other two vestals triggered outrage and led to a follow-up trial headed by Cassius Longinus Ravilla.

Aemilia was found guilty and sentenced to death by the Pontifex Maximus Lucius Caecilius Metellus Dalmaticus.

[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.

Upon consultation with the Sibylline books, a new temple to Venus Verticordia was constructed,[6] and a rare instance of human sacrifice was carried out, in this case two couples, one Greek and one Gallic, buried alive in the Forum Boarium.

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. [ 1 ]
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. [ 5 ]