Vesta (hestia)

Symbols• Vesta is symbolised by the ‘Sacred

Fire’ that burns at the hearth and temples.

who was she?Vesta is the Roman

name of Hestia which means ‘hearth’ and

comes from the same root meaning ‘to shine’.

Why was vesta important?Vesta is one of the most

ancient Roman goddesses whose worship remained of an ancient character. She was considered the goddesses of the Earth as well as fire. Later she became goddesses of ceremonial or central fire and was worshipped by the state. Offerings were made to her at every meal.

Her connection with the vestal virgins…

• In Ancient Roman religion the vestal virgins were priestesses of Vesta. The college of the Vestals and its wellbeing were regarded as the fundamentals to the continuous of security of Rome. Vestals were committed to the priesthood at a young age, before puberty and served for thirty years.

Tasks of vestal virgins• They were not

allowed to let the sacred fire of Vesta die out, otherwise they will be punished by scourging.

• By maintaining Vesta’s sacred fire, they functioned as ‘surrogate house keepers’ in a religious sense.

facts about roman goddess ‘vesta’

• Vesta was the daughter of Vesta the elder by Saturn. She was the sister of Ceres and Juno, Neptune and Jupiter.

• When Jupiter offered to grant whatever she asked, her only desires was the ‘preservation of her virginity’.

• Numa Pompilius, the great founder of religion in ancient Rome restores the ancient rights and worship of this goddess.

Myths of hestia• Hestia was one of the children to be

swallowed by her father. Cronus was tricked into drinking emetic, and vomited her and her siblings out. She was the last to leave her fathers belly.

• When the gods Apollo and Poseidon sought for her hand in marriage, Hestia refused and asked Zeus to let her remain an eternal virgin.

• She nearly lost her virginity when Priapus tried to rape her at a festival.

• When Dionysus came to Olympus Hestia yielded her seat at the high table to him.

How is hestia depicted as??• Hestia was depicted in

Athenian vase paintings as a modestly veiled woman. Sometimes holding a flower branch.

• In classical sculpture she was also veiled as with a kettle as her attribute.

• Usually depicted with a hood

Facts on vesta• Hestia is one of the

three great goddesses of the first Olympian goddesses along with Demeter and Hera.

• She was described as both the oldest and youngest of the three daughters.