institution
The Vestal Virgins
the Vestals
also: the Vestals, virgines, Vestal Virgins
The college of priestesses of Vesta who tended the sacred hearth of Rome; together with the women of the household they conducted the Bona Dea rite, and after Clodius's intrusion in 62 BC repeated the polluted sacrifice and (with the pontiffs) helped pronounce it sacrilege.