| This was once the headquarters of the Pontifex Maximus, the high priest, the supreme religious authority of Rome. Pontifex Maximus literally means "the greatest bridge-builder". He was the bridge between gods and men. He regulated the rituals of Roman life and the divine law and this gave him considerable political authority. But he was also master of the Vestal Virgins and right next door to his headquarters was their house and temple. The Virgins were priestesses of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth and home, who had a special link to the fortunes of the entire city. The Vestal Virgins were chosen at the age of six for their moral and physical perfection. Their task was to tend the sacred flame of the sacred hearth of the city and the Romans believed that if the fire went out the city itself would fall. The whole forum was a place where religious practice ensured Rome's political decisions had divine backing. |
YouTube搜索结果 (转至YouTube)