Aemilia, Licinia and Marcia were Roman vestal Virgins who were prosecuted in two famous trials between 115 and 113 BC for having broken the vow of chastity. The first trial was conducted by the Pontif
Denarius of Lucius Cassius Longinus, 63 BC. The obverse depicts Vesta. On the reverse, a voter is casting a ballot inscribed V, for uti rogas ("as you propose"). Vesta and the voter are allusions to the election of Longinus Ravilla as prosecutor in the Vestals' case of 113.
Denarius of Quintus Cassius Longinus, 55 BC. Libertas is portrayed on the obverse. The reverse is a depiction of the Temple of Vesta, where Longinus Ravilla held the trial in 113. On the left is a voting urn, and a ballot (tabella) is on the right. It is inscribed A C for Absolvo Condemno ("acquitted" or "condemned"), a further reference to the trial.
Forum Boarium
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The Forum Boarium was the cattle market or forum venalium of ancient Rome. It was located on a level piece of land near the Tiber between the Capitoline, the Palatine and Aventine hills. As the site o
Trial of the Vestal Virgins (114–113 BC)
…was constructed, and a rare instance of human sacrifice was carried out, in this case two couples, one Greek and one Gallic, were buried alive in the Forum Boarium. T. Robert S. Broughton, The Magistrates of the Roman Republic, American Philological Association, 1952–1986…
The Forum Boarium and Temple of Hercules Victor in Gismondi's scale model of imperial Rome, Museum of Roman Civilization
The Temple of Portunus after conservation work
The Temple of Hercules Victor with the temple of Portunus on the right in a mid-18th century etching by Giuseppe Vasi
The Temple of Hercules Victor today