Where is the temple of Vesta located?
What is the most important duty of a Vestal Virgin?
How many Vestal Virgins served at the same time?
What is the minimum length of service for a Vestal Virgin?
What items is a Vestal Virgin buried with?
Live burial was a very extreme punishment that a Vestal Virgin faced if she was found guilty of incestum (unchastity). Why do you think the ancient Romans were so severe in cases like this? What might it suggest about what the ancient Romans valued?
Vestals found guilty of incestum were buried alive with a number of items. According to the ancient writer Plutarch in Life of Numa 10.5, Vestals were buried with a portion of bread, water, milk, and oil. Why might the Romans leave these items in the underground chamber with the priestess?
The flame of Vesta was very important to the ancient Romans. So much so that the most important duty of the Vestals was to take turns keeping vigil over the flame to make sure that it continued to burn. What other reasons can you come up with for why fire was important in the ancient world?
Hestia's Domain:
Hestia's symbols
Hestia's preferred sacrifice
What was so important about the hearth (fireplace)?
Hestia was a virgin goddess. Which two gods’ marriage proposals does she reject?
What selfless and generous thing does Hestia do?
What was one of her jobs on Mount Olympus?
What was an added benefit of this job?
How were her sacred fires used in Greece?
Describe the Temple of Vesta in Rome and the priestess who tended it.
Where did her worship begin?
What other Roman gods are associated with her?
What is another important thing she does in Roman culture?
What is a modern superstition that comes from this role?