text: vestal virgins? there was a song around 1970 with vestal virgins in it. does anyone know who wrote the song? and where there really vestal virgins?what did they do? the song whiter shade of pale is by procol harum.  vestal virgins were the priestesses of vesta and were in charge of maintaining the sacred fire in the temple of vesta.  they were the only priestesses in roman culture.   they served for 30 years and then were free.  marrying a former vestal virgin was very prestigious.