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Mythology Unbound: Hestia

Last updated over 3 years ago

22 questions

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Question 15

15.

Where is the temple of Vesta located?

On the Via Appia

Next to the River Tiber

On the Esquiline Hill

Next to the Roman Forum

Question 16

16.

What is the most important duty of a Vestal Virgin?

Maintaining castitas (modest spirit and body)

Learning the fasti (the calendar of sacred rituals)

Cleansing the temple each day with water

Keeping vigil over the eternal flame

Question 17

17.

How many Vestal Virgins served at the same time?

2

4

6

8

Question 18

18.

What is the minimum length of service for a Vestal Virgin?

15 years

20 years

25 years

30 years

Question 19

19.

What items is a Vestal Virgin buried with?

A book and a light to read it by

A portion of fish, milk, and grain

A portion of bread, water, milk, and oil

A blanket and a plate of figs

Question 20

20.

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?

Question 21

21.

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?

Question 22

22.

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?

Question 1

1.

Hestia's Domain:

Question 2

2.

Hestia's symbols

Question 3

3.

Hestia's preferred sacrifice

Question 4

4.

What was so important about the hearth (fireplace)?

Question 5

5.

Hestia was a virgin goddess. Which two gods’ marriage proposals does she reject?

Question 6

6.

What selfless and generous thing does Hestia do?

Question 7

7.

What was one of her jobs on Mount Olympus?

Question 8

8.

What was an added benefit of this job?

Question 9

9.

How were her sacred fires used in Greece?

Question 10

10.

Describe the Temple of Vesta in Rome and the priestess who tended it.

Question 11

11.

Where did her worship begin?

Question 12

12.

What other Roman gods are associated with her?

Question 13

13.

What is another important thing she does in Roman culture?

Question 14

14.

What is a modern superstition that comes from this role?