Hestia (Vesta)

HESTIA (Vesta).

Hestia was the daughter of Cronus and Rhea. She was the goddess of
Fire in its first application to the wants of mankind, hence she was
essentially the presiding deity [49]of the domestic hearth and the guardian
spirit of man, and it was her pure and benign influence which was
supposed to protect the sanctity of domestic life.

Now in these early ages the hearth was regarded as the most important
and most sacred portion of the dwelling, probably because the protection
of the fire was an important consideration, for if once permitted to
become extinct, re-ignition was attended with extreme difficulty. In
fact, the hearth was held so sacred that it constituted the sanctum of
the family, for which reason it was always erected in the centre of every
house. It was a few feet in height and was built of stone; the fire was
placed on the top of it, and served the double purpose of preparing the
daily meals, and consuming the family sacrifices. Round this domestic
hearth or altar were gathered the various members of the family, the head
of the house occupying the place of honour nearest the hearth. Here
prayers were said and sacrifices offered, and here also every kind and
loving feeling was fostered, which even extended to the hunted and guilty
stranger, who, if he once succeeded in touching this sacred altar, was
safe from pursuit and punishment, and was henceforth placed under the
protection of the family. Any crime committed within the sacred precincts
of the domestic hearth was invariably visited by death.

In Grecian cities there was a common hall, called the Prytaneum, in
which the members of the government had their meals at the expense of the
state, and here too was the Hestia, or public hearth, with its fire, by
means of which those meals were prepared. It was customary for emigrants
to take with them a portion of this sacred fire, which they jealously
guarded and brought with them to their new home, where it served as a
connecting link between the young Greek colony and the mother country.
Hestia is generally represented standing, and in accordance with the
dignity and sanctity of her character, always appears fully draped. Her
countenance is distinguished by a serene gravity of expression. [50]

VESTA.

Vesta occupies a distinguished place among the earlier divinities of
the Romans. Her temple in Rome, containing as it were the hearthstone of
the nation, stood close beside the palace of Numa Pompilius.

On her altar burned the never-ceasing fire, which was tended by her
priestesses, the Vestal Virgins.^[22]

The temple of Vesta was circular in form, and contained that sacred
and highly prized treasure the Palladium of Troy.^[23]

The great festival in honour of Vesta, called the Vestalia, was
celebrated on the 9th of June.