Vesta Roma
Vesta was the goddess of the hearth, the home, and domestic life in the Roman religion (idenitified with the Greek goddess, Hestia). She was the first-born of the titans Kronos and Rhea and (like the others) was swallowed by her father. When her brother Jupiter (the Greek Zeus), who managed to escape their father's appetite, freed his siblings, Vesta was the last to be released (because she was the first swallowed) and so is regarded as both the oldest and the youngest of the gods. She was very beautiful and attracted the attention of both Apollo and Neptune who fought for her hand. Vesta rejected them both, however, and begged Jupiter to allow her to remain forever a virgin. When he consented to this, Vesta was pleased and took care of his home and hearth; thus identifying her with domestic life but, more importantly, with domestic tranquility.
Examples
References
- Photo: "Vesta Roma" published by Guillaume Rouille (1518?-1589), Public Domain.
- Vesta at the Ancient History Encyclopedia (Retrieved on October 21, 2017).