1825 Rare French Book - Vestal Virgins' History - Histoire des Vestales et de leur culte.
(description)
Author : Cartour, B. (Translator)
Title : Histoire des Vestales et de leur Culte d'après Plutarque, Tacite,Suetone. Traduit de l'Italien par B. Cartour.
Language : Text in French
Publisher : À Paris, Chez Le Fuel et chez Delauney, 1825. First thus.
Size : 6 " X 4 "
Pages : 124 pages.
Binding : Good decorated original wrapper binding (hinges tight, spine worn - as shown) under a removable protective mylar cover .
Content : Good content (bright and tight, foxing and staining throughout - as shown).
Illustrations : Including 3 beautiful plates by Deveria engraved by Lecomte. (Complete).
The book : Rare French 19th century edition in his original wrapper of this book on the Vestal Virgins - In ancient Rome, the Vestals or Vestal Virgins were priestesses of Vesta, goddess of the hearth. The College of the Vestals and its well-being were regarded as fundamental to the continuance and security of Rome. They cultivated the sacred fire that was not allowed to go out. The Vestals were freed of the usual social obligations to marry and bear children and took a 30-year vow of chastity in order to devote themselves to the study and correct observance of state rituals that were forbidden to the colleges of male priests.