Everything about Vesta Mythology totally explained
Vesta was the
virgin goddess of the
hearth, home, and family in
Roman mythology. Though she's often mistaken as analogous to
Hestia in
Greek mythology; she'd a large, albeit mysterious role in Roman religion long before she appeared in Greece. 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'd no distinct personality, was never depicted and went without mention in
myths. Vesta's presence was symbolized by the
sacred fire that burned at her hearth and temples.
Vestales
Vesta's (in some versions she's called Vestia) fire was guarded at her Temples by her
priestesses, the
Vestales. Every March 1 the fire was renewed. It burned until
391, when the Emperor
Theodosius I forbade public
pagan worship. One of the Vestales mentioned in mythology was
Rhea Silvia, who with the God
Mars conceived
Romulus and Remus (see
founding of Rome).
The Vestales were one of the few full time
clergy positions in
Roman religion. They were drawn from the
patrician class and had to observe absolute
chastity for 30 years. It was from this that the Vestales were named the Vestal virgins. They couldn't 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. 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. They were also very independent and had many privileges that normal women didn't 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. 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. 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.
Further Information
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