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MIRACLE AND CICERO
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MIRACLE AND CICERO
When a mysterious flame bursts out in the temple of fertility goddess Bona Dea, the Vestal Virgins interpret it as a portent favorable to Cicero; but it is probably a trick Date: 63 BC
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Media ID 20146409
© Bubblepunk
Bona Bursts Cicero Fertility Flame Goddess Interpret Miracle Mysterious Portent Trick Vestal Virgins
EDITORS COMMENTS
In the heart of ancient Rome, during the tumultuous year of 63 BC, an extraordinary event unfolded within the sacred precincts of the temple dedicated to the goddess Bona Dea, the protector of fertility and abundance. The temple, nestled in the secluded grove of the sacred woods, was a place where the Vestal Virgins, the priestesses of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth, performed their sacred rites in seclusion. One fateful night, as the temple was bathed in the soft glow of flickering torches, a mysterious flame burst forth from the altar, illuminating the darkened chamber with an otherworldly light. The Vestal Virgins, startled by the sudden and inexplicable manifestation, were both alarmed and intrigued. They believed that this was a divine sign, a portent favorable to the esteemed orator and statesman, Marcus Tullius Cicero. Cicero, a man of great intellect and eloquence, had recently been appointed as the consul of Rome, a position of immense power and responsibility. The Vestal Virgins, interpreting the flame as a sign of the goddess Bona Dea's approval, conveyed the news to Cicero, who was both humbled and encouraged by the omen. However, the origins of the flame remained a mystery. Some speculated that it was the work of an arsonist, seeking to manipulate the course of events in the political arena. Others believed that it was a natural phenomenon, perhaps the result of a gas leak or an electrical discharge. Regardless of its cause, the flame became a symbol of hope and divine favor, adding to the intrigue and drama of the tumultuous year that was 63 BC. This photograph, taken from the archives of Mary Evans Prints Online, captures the essence of that fateful night, transporting us back in time to the ancient world of Rome, where the divine and the mundane intertwined, and where the flames of the temple of Bona Dea burned bright with the promise of the unknown.
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