Claudia (vestal)

Temple of Vesta

Claudia was a Vestal Virgin as was thought to be Tarpeia, Tuccia, and Rhea Sylvia, who conceived Romulus and Remus. In Roman mythology Vesta pertains to a Roman goddess, the Sacred fire of Vesta, and the Temple of Vesta.

Claudia, a descendant of noble Roman stock, was devoted to her father and had much love for him. One day the Roman Senate decree a great honor on him. While he was celebrating an elaborate triumph in front of a large crowd, a tribune of jealous plebs lunged forward to do harm. Claudia seeing this as a spectator could not bear it because of the love she had for him. She didn't want her father harmed so rushed in between the plebs and her father to protect him. Somehow this small woman forged enough strength to break her father free and away from the hostile crowd. He was then able to continue his grand triumphal march to the Capital. Claudia in turn was also able to march triumphal back to the Temple of Vesta.

Reference

Virginia Brown's translation of Giovanni Boccaccio’s Famous Women, pp 127 - 128; Harvard University Press, 2001; ISBN 0-674-01130-9