tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356093701102910263.post8381924467778507991..comments2023-06-02T15:46:37.487+02:00Comments on JOURNEY INTO ELDERHOOD: VestalsGrandmother Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18169464484379536529noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356093701102910263.post-60681850374894391242011-05-29T23:12:01.637+02:002011-05-29T23:12:01.637+02:00Patti, The places you mentioned just went on my &q...Patti, The places you mentioned just went on my "to do" list.Grandmother Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18169464484379536529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356093701102910263.post-85469784598722744452011-05-29T17:51:39.322+02:002011-05-29T17:51:39.322+02:00I know exactly what you mean. There are places (a...I know <i>exactly</i> what you mean. There are places (all of them very old) where I have felt that, if I could only be <i>still</i> enough, I could hear the past. Some of the places where this washed over me: Glastonbury England (said to be the legendary Avalon and oozing with power); the Cathedral at Chartres, France; and sadly, La Bastille, where I was sure I could hear the moans and feel the desperation.PattiKenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02894925987580502697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356093701102910263.post-83663764333719945652011-05-22T14:32:32.812+02:002011-05-22T14:32:32.812+02:00Pat, It's a fascinating history that affected ...Pat, It's a fascinating history that affected lots of our ancestors. Yes, the Vestals had a unique position of privilege.Grandmother Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18169464484379536529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356093701102910263.post-19716420805040268312011-05-21T21:16:00.985+02:002011-05-21T21:16:00.985+02:00This was so interesting! I love learning more abou...This was so interesting! I love learning more about the hostory of ancient Italy. Women had so little rights in those days that they must have felt almost as privilaged as Queens. There are such lovely views from those hills in Rome!Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoritihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08922525910685129822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356093701102910263.post-67405736383869015692011-05-21T13:09:31.885+02:002011-05-21T13:09:31.885+02:00GW., They were a name that I heard but I hadn'...GW., They were a name that I heard but I hadn't read about them until now. I'm hoping for that status again in our own culture.<br />TB., You're one step ahead of me but I hope to catch up now that I know about it. Agree about Rome.<br />Rosaria, It was tricky in Roman law. If they were married they were subject to their husband instead of the State. In their role as Vestals they were dedicated to the State alone. Celibacy is tricky as well since, even in other contexts, it can lead to both amazing self-sacriface and selfless service and also to aberrant behavior and de-sexing. I prize the full expression of our humanity, including sex, and think celibacy should only be by choice not by mandate. But, truly my cells were zinging in this space. Yes, lots to think about.Grandmother Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18169464484379536529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356093701102910263.post-68951081309996900562011-05-21T06:00:09.217+02:002011-05-21T06:00:09.217+02:00Very interesting concept. Yet, something about it ...Very interesting concept. Yet, something about it disturbs me, the idea that to be valued women had to be celibate. This idolizing can be quite detrimental. De-sexing as a saintly act makes immolation acceptable. Ugh, a lot to think about this topic. <br /><br />You felt positive in this space, and I trust your gut feelings here.Rosaria Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03133147851332084180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356093701102910263.post-15037293064684540152011-05-21T05:36:38.331+02:002011-05-21T05:36:38.331+02:00I just love going to the Forum and climbing up the...I just love going to the Forum and climbing up the Palatine Hill overlooking it -- Rome is my favorite city and that whole area is where I like to go most. The Vestal Virgins were amazing women and that part of the Forum is very moving for me also. Beautiful pictures that bring back some lovely memories of the hours I spent there.The Broadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04976467218216864644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356093701102910263.post-4747592713128534802011-05-21T05:36:24.965+02:002011-05-21T05:36:24.965+02:00i have read a bit about vestals but being reminded...i have read a bit about vestals but being reminded of them now in the context of these beautiful images of their home is really just wonderful - and it's always always refreshing to read of womanhood with status in a culture - very nice post!GYPSYWOMANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03042621041213415958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356093701102910263.post-24214336315953675492011-05-20T21:59:55.597+02:002011-05-20T21:59:55.597+02:00Lauren, Me too for Assisi but this was different, ...Lauren, Me too for Assisi but this was different, clear, eerie.<br />DJan, It's part of the Forum tour and The Palatine Hill. I didn't see it first time but this time it was recommended and I'm glad I went.<br />Sally, It's a complicated issue and I'm sure we take in the abiding mores and treat each other accordingly. Consciousness comes first to change this.<br />F.G., Thanks and thanks for stopping by. <br />Nanny, It was awe inspiring, very uncrowded and impactful.<br />C.G., Really, they lived in luxurious surroundings and enjoyed a unique and exalted status in their own right. What's not to love?Grandmother Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18169464484379536529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356093701102910263.post-22559644705358055122011-05-20T21:27:12.038+02:002011-05-20T21:27:12.038+02:00I probably would not have married either after enj...I probably would not have married either after enjoying the respect of my fellow Romans. Besides, who wants to be subject to their husband?California Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12582691517303132274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356093701102910263.post-22651295997047178672011-05-20T19:53:07.843+02:002011-05-20T19:53:07.843+02:00I wasn't aware of this place either....very in...I wasn't aware of this place either....very interesting.nannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958113283042574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356093701102910263.post-47757927557152665942011-05-20T16:21:12.070+02:002011-05-20T16:21:12.070+02:00This is a beautiful post for many reasons. A thou...This is a beautiful post for many reasons. A thought that comes to my mind concerns the silencing of the feminine voice by women themselves. I don't understand this phenomena completely, but I believe that we as women do as much harm to each other in regard to having the freedom to use our voices as men do.Sally Wesselyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06470453773515491625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356093701102910263.post-75628192881868630512011-05-20T15:16:43.403+02:002011-05-20T15:16:43.403+02:00This is very interesting! I was in Rome but never ...This is very interesting! I was in Rome but never even heard of this place. I do know when I was in Paris and walking across the Tuilleries, I could feel the presence of history.DJanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07152183871573797791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356093701102910263.post-91534492521618420832011-05-20T14:35:25.582+02:002011-05-20T14:35:25.582+02:00Wow. I didn't visit there when I was in Rome....Wow. I didn't visit there when I was in Rome. Going on the list for the next time. I felt that way in Assisi.....Mental P Mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05957544840704376193noreply@blogger.com