Besides their vow of chastity, the Vestal virgins had a number of official duties. As John Murray writes in The Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, they provided offerings to Vesta, assisted with rites at public festivals, purified the Temple of Vesta (cf. contactu suo polluit), and most importantly, maintained the everlasting fire of the city on the Temple’s altar. Unless she had the misfortune of death or persecution, each Vestal virgin served a term of thirty years.

This representation of the Vestal virgins in the Temple of Vesta is taken from Stephen Sondheim’s musical comedy, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966). Where Philia lies should be the undying fire of Rome.