In Ancient Rome, the priestesses of Vesta occupied a unique position in society because the Vestal was a woman who belonged to herself. The most important task of the Vestal Virgin was to keep the city's sacred flame, and if a Vestal let the flame go out, she was beaten. Vestal Virgins were chosen at an early age by the Pontifix Maximus and stayed under his control during their time of service. They took a vow of chastity for 30 years at the end of which, they were granted “rights, privileges, and power unavailable to other women” in Roman society. After 30 years in the temple, the Vestals were set free and then answered to no man, which gave them a unique status in Roman times.—Diana Guber, “Tending to the Sacred Flame,” 2018.