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I'm sure others here will answer your other questions, but I'll tackle your question on how Vestal Virgins were selected. There was no formal election process involved -- when there was a vacancy for a Vestal, the Pontifex Maximus would choose from among Roman girls between the ages of six and ten years. Originally the girls were chosen from patrician families, but later on (most likely by 483 BCE) plebeian girls could be chosen. Other requirements were that the girl had to have both parents still living and happily married, with no scandal in the family, and that she herself had to be physically perfect and intelligent. -- Nephele