Descripción
Cornelia, a Vestal from the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian, was embroiled in a grave scandal when accused of breaking her vow of chastity. In ancient Rome, the purity of Vestal Virgins held immense religious and societal significance; any transgressions were considered not just personal failings but threats to the very fabric of the Roman state. Around 90 AD, Cornelia was condemned by Domitian on charges of impiety. Despite her protestations of innocence, she was found guilty. Following tradition for Vestals convicted of such a crime, Cornelia was buried alive, a fate considered more humane than bloodshed but a grim reflection of the weight of her alleged sins. Her condemnation was part of Domitian's broader initiative to restore and enforce traditional Roman religious practices, but his actions were also seen by many as overly harsh and symptomatic of his increasingly tyrannical rule.