Vesta (mythology)

Home > ... > Philosophy and Religion > Ancient Religions > Ancient Religion > ...

Essential reading Compare
side-by-side The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition

Vesta

Vesta in Roman religion and mythology, hearth goddess. She was highly honored in every household from early times to the beginning of Christianity. Her public cult maintained a sacred building in which her priestesses, the vestal virgins, tended the communal hearth and fire, which was never allowed to die out. Vesta was identified with the Greek Hestia.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-Vesta2" title="Facts and information about Vesta (mythology)">Vesta (mythology)</a>

Give this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"Vesta." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 25 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Vesta." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (December 25, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Vesta2.html

"Vesta." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved December 25, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Vesta2.html

Learn more about citation styles

Vesta

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | Â© The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 2006, originally published by Oxford University Press 2006. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Vesta in Roman mythology, the goddess of the hearth and household. She was worshipped in a round building in the Forum at Rome, probably an imitation in stone of an ancient round hut. Her temple in Rome contained no image but a fire which was kept constantly burning and was tended by the Vestal Virgins.
Vestal Virgins virgins consecrated to Vesta and vowed to chastity, sharing the charge of maintaining the sacred fire burning on the goddess's altar; there were originally four, and later six, of these priestesses.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O214-Vesta" title="Facts and information about Vesta (mythology)">Vesta (mythology)</a>

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Vesta." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 25 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Vesta." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (December 25, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Vesta.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Vesta." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Retrieved December 25, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Vesta.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

Question & answer: these student bloopers are all genuine, authentic and unretouched.
Magazine article from: National Review; 12/31/1995

Facts and information from other sites

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

	VESTA TO OFFER FONDUE WITH CAN-DO CONFIDENCE NEW LODO RESTAURANT IS PUTTING A '90S SPIN ON A '60S DISH.(Business) Newspaper article from: Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO); 7/16/1997; ; 695 words ; ...break an eatery, Head said. If Vesta doesn't have these ingredients...the restaurant is derived from Vesta, in Roman mythology the goddess of the glowing hearth...restaurant angle,'' Wolkon said. Vesta is in search of the audience that...
	1984 Olympic Games' torch relay. PR Newswire; 7/27/1984; 700+ words ; ...glowing embers were tended at the altar of Hestia, goddess of hearth fire and protectress of the state ("Vesta" in Roman mythology), by her priestesses the Vestal virgins. A winning Olympic athlete earned the honor of reviving a sacred...
	All fired up Newspaper article from: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; 5/27/2001; ; 700+ words ; ...outstanding new products were presented with a Vesta award, the industry equivalent of an Oscar. In Roman mythology, Vesta was the goddess of the hearth. Among the outdoor products boasting a Vesta award is the Adirondack from Hearthlink...
	Ancient Rome rises with latest games.(Arts and Lifestyle) Newspaper article from: The Boston Herald; 4/7/2002; ; 700+ words ; ...the sacred flame in Rome's Temple of Vesta, swore its six members to a 30-year...chastity and service to both the goddess Vesta and the Roman state. Caesar's will...Rome, check out the dictionary of Roman mythology and learn about Latin literature. The...
	Three French 'Stars' To Light Up Costa Serena Inaugural Festivities. PR Newswire; 5/11/2007; 700+ words ; ...guests, to be held in the ship's two main dining venues, the Vesta restaurant and the Ceres restaurant. As with other inaugural...architect Joe Farcus, with a central theme of Greek and Roman mythology. That same theme was also applied to the 6,000 works of...
	If the Superstitious Shoe Fits; All Those Evil Spirits Certainly Can Clutter Up a House Newspaper article from: The Washington Post; 7/20/1989; ; 700+ words ; ...traced to ancient Rome, where the threshold was sacred to Vesta, the virgin goddess. Hence, it was an ill omen-offensive...pagan one. In "The Golden Bough," the classic study of mythology and religion, Sir James G. Frazer traces this practice to...
	A look back at the gods of the Greeks and Romans Newspaper article from: Redlands Daily Facts; 4/29/2005; ; 700+ words ; ...Europeans who migrated into Europe centuries ago. According to the mythology his authority was once challenged by the other dozen or so...female gods are interesting to us in their stereotyping Hestia (Vesta), sister to Zeus, was the goddess of the hearth, whose...
	Film Review: Star Wars: The Clone Wars: More pale imitation than clone Newspaper article from: Scotland on Sunday; 8/17/2008; ; 700+ words ; ...tinker with his unending wars. This time his stilted space mythology has been spun off into a new animated cable TV series. There...offers a hip fusion meal, then Star Wars: The Clone Wars is a Vesta curry; artificial, unsatisfying and with artistry absent...
	Question & answer: these student bloopers are all genuine, authentic and unretouched. Magazine article from: National Review; 12/31/1995; ; 700+ words ; ...students describe the gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines of ancient mythology. Hera had only one way to control Zeus and viewed sex as a mean of coming to an end. Vesta was a goddess who kept the home fries burning. Dionysius was the god...
	Meet some cool Greek gods and goddesses. Newspaper article from: Dallas Morning News (Dallas, TX); 5/4/2006; 700+ words ; ...in between, some even found time to battle monsters. Greek mythology begins with Chaos, who gave birth to Gaea, the goddess of...mother became happy and made it spring. HESTIA (the Roman VESTA) The goddess who protected the hearth and home, Hestia was...