Vesta was the virgin goddess of the hearth, home, and family in Roman mythology. In common historic and modern usage a hearth (Har-th is a Brick - or stone -lined Fireplace or Oven used for Cooking and/or Heating Roman mythology, or more appropriately Latin mythology, refers to the mythological beliefs of the Italic people inhabiting the region of Latium and its Though she is often mistaken as analogous to Hestia in Greek mythology; she had a large, albeit mysterious role in Roman religion long before she appeared in Greece. In Greek mythology, virginal Hestia, (Roman name Vesta daughter of Kronus and Rhea, ( ancient Greek) is the Goddess Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and Heroes the nature of the world and the origins and significance Vesta was much more important to the Romans than Hestia was to the Greeks. Little is known about the goddess, as unlike other Roman deities, she had no distinct personality, was never depicted and went without mention in myths. The word mythology (from the Greek grc μυθολογία mythología, meaning "a story-telling a legendary lore" Vesta's presence was symbolized by the sacred fire that burned at her hearth and temples. The Sacred fire of Vesta, who in Roman mythology was the goddess of the Hearth and goddess of Fire, and of smoke was central to Roman piety
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Vestales
Vesta's (in some versions she is called Vestia) fire was guarded at her Temples by her priestesses, the Vestales. A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities In Ancient Rome, the Vestal Virgins ( sacerdos Vestalis) were the virgin Holy female Priests of Vesta, the Goddess of the Every March 1 the fire was renewed. It burned until 391, when the Emperor Theodosius I forbade public pagan worship. Events By Place Roman Empire All non- Christian temples in the Empire are closed as Theodosius establishes Christianity Flavius Theodosius (January 11 347 – January 17 395 also called Theodosius I and Theodosius the Great ( Greek: Θεοδόσιος Α΄ Paganism (from Latin paganus, meaning "country dweller rustic" is a word used to refer to various religions and religious beliefs from across the world One of the Vestales mentioned in mythology was Rhea Silvia, who with the God Mars conceived Romulus and Remus (see founding of Rome). Rhea Silvia (also written as Rea Silvia) and also known as Ilia, was the mythical mother of the twins Romulus and Remus, who founded the Mars was the Roman Warrior god, the son of Juno and Jupiter, husband of Bellona, and the lover of Venus. Romulus (c 771 BC– c 717 BC and Remus (c 771 BC–c 753 BC are the traditional founders of Rome, appearing in Roman mythology The founding of Rome is reported by many legends which in recent times are beginning to be supplemented by more scientific reconstructions
The Vestales were one of the few full time clergy positions in Roman religion. Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given Religion. Ancient Roman religion encompasses the collection of Beliefs and Rituals practised in Ancient Rome in the form of Cult practices They were drawn from the patrician class and had to observe absolute chastity for 30 years. The term " patrician " originally referred to a group of elite families in Ancient Rome, including both their natural and Chastity is Sexual behavior of a man or woman acceptable to the ethical norms and guidelines of a culture civilization or Religion. It was from this that the Vestales were named the Vestal virgins. They could not show excessive care of their person, and they must not let the fire go out. The Vestal Virgins lived together in a house near the Forum (Atrium Vestae), supervised by the Pontifex Maximus. The Pontifex Maximus was the high priest of the Ancient Roman College of Pontiffs. On becoming a priestess, a Vestal Virgin was legally emancipated from her father's authority and swore a vow of chastity for 30 years. This vow was so sacred that if it were broken, the Vestal was buried alive in the Campus Sceleris ('Field of Wickedness'). It is likely that this is what happened to Rhea Silvia. Rhea Silvia (also written as Rea Silvia) and also known as Ilia, was the mythical mother of the twins Romulus and Remus, who founded the They were also very independent and had many privileges that normal women did not have. They could move around the city but had to be in a carriage.
Vesta is also known as honoring God in Greek mythology.
Vestalia
Vesta was celebrated at the Vestalia which took place from June 7 to June 15. On the first day of the festivities the penus Vestae (the curtained sanctum sanctorum of her temple) was opened, for the only time during the year, for women to offer sacrifices in. The Sanctum Sanctorum is a fictional building in the Marvel Universe. The Temple of Vesta ( Latin: Aedes Vestae) in the Roman Forum stands between the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the Temple of Caesar, Such sacrifices included the removal of an unborn calf from a pregnant cow.
Household worship
Vesta was the goddess of the hearth at the centre of atrium and home. In modern Architecture, an atrium (plural atria is a large open space often several stories high and having a glazed roof and/or large windows often situated within an It was in the house and home that Vesta was most important as she was the goddess of the hearth and of fire. Vesta was particularly important to women of the household as the hearth was the place where food was prepared and next to it the meal was eaten with offerings being thrown into the fire to seek omens (the future) from the way it burned. Her weakness was that she couldn't fall in love.
See also
- Roman religion: Roman festivals, Roman mythology, Founding of Rome, Hestia, Caca, Juturna, Vestal Virgin, Similarities between Roman, Greek, and Etruscan mythologies
- Other: Rhea Silvia, Romanian mythology, Pontifex Maximus, List of deities, Amulius
- The asteroid 4 Vesta
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