CHAPTER V

MYSTERIES OF VIRGINITY

Of Hellenism at Rome—Institution of Vestals—Traditional virtue of virgin blood—Symbolism of Sacred Fire—Religious aspect of the history of Lucretia—Honour among Roman women—Mysteries of the _Bona Dea_—Numa as a hierophant—Ingenious notions of Voltaire on divination—Prophetic instinct of the masses—Erroneous opinions of Fontenelle and Kircher on oracles—Religious Calendar of Numa 152

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