House of the Vestals

(Local Name: Atrium Vestae) Adjoining the Temple of Vesta was the house of the Vestal virgins, also built by Septimus Severus. It consisted of a large atrium, the lodgings of the priestesses, and various offices. The plan of the building, with remains of the foundations and numerous statue bases, can be readily identified. It is known from the works of Latin writers that the sacred Palladium (an image of Pallas Athene), which Aeneas was said to have brought from Troy to Latium, was preserved in the House of the Vestals.