The history of immurement, the brutal practice of entombing someone alive and simply leaving them to die,
The history of immurement, the brutal practice of entombing someone alive and simply leaving them to die, dates as far back as ancient Rome. There, priestesses known as Vestal Virgins were selected from respected families and made to tend a sacred fire honoring Vesta, the goddess of home and family. Vestal Virgins also took a strict vow of celibacy, and if one broke her vow, she would be put to death. But the punishment wasn't a simple matter of execution — because spilling the blood of such a priestess was forbidden, a much crueler sentence was devised. Executioners would prepare a small vault in the ground, usually with a couch and a small amount of food and water. The accused priestess would be placed in the chamber, sealed up, and left to die a slow and agonizing death.