Vesta

an ancient Latin divinity, the fire-goddess, identical with the Greek Hesfia. She was the embodiment of the idea that the State was the great family, and occupied a prominent rank among the Penates, or household gods, on which account she was called mater, or mother. Each community had its public altar to Vesta, the central one for the whole Latin people being at Lanuvium, about twenty miles from Rome, on the Appian Way, where the Roman consuls and other officers offered sacrifices on entering upon their offices. The Vesta of Rome had her temple in the Forum, near that of the Penates, where she was served by her own priestesses the Vestals (q.v.), and where was deposited the celebrated Palladium, or statue of Pallas, the pledge of the safety of the empire. The fire continually burned upon the hearth in the Temple of Vesta, and was annually renewed on March 1, and at the same time was renewed the laurel-tree which shaded 'her hearth. The statues of Vesta before which the devout Romans daily sacrificed were placed in front of the doors of their houses, which, according to some, were hence called vestibules. An oath in her name was considered most sacred and inviolable. SEE VESTALIA; SEE VESTALS.