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Author: * Nantonos Aedui -
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Date: Feb 10, 2004 - 14:53
A mediaeval painting by Mantegna, showing Tuccia carryingwater in a seive: at the National Galery, London
Another picture, this one pen and ink wash, of Tuccia by Domenico Piola.
The story is told in by Pliny the Elder (23-79ce) in 'Natural History' (28: 12)
durat inmenso exemplo Deciorum patris filiique, quo se devovere, carmen; extat Tucciae Vestalis incesti deprecatio, qua usa aquam in cribro tulit anno urbis DXVIIII.
and in book 8 of Valeri Maximi
Factorum et Dictorum Memorabilium, which gives a little more detail and cites the river tiber as the source of the water:
8.1.abs.5 Eodem auxilii genere Tucciae virginis Vestalis incesti criminis reae castitas infamiae nube obscurata emersit. quae conscientia certa sinceritatis suae spem salutis ancipiti argumento ausa petere est: arrepto enim cribro "Vesta" inquit, "si sacris tuis castas semper admovi manus, effice ut hoc hauriam e Tiberi aquam et in aedem tuam perferam." audaciter et temere iactis votis sacerdotis rerum ipsa natura cessit.
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