Vesta
VESTA. The name Vesta, with the archaic suffix-ta, is derived from the root *a1eu, "to burn." It encompasses two stems: stem 1, *a1eu-s, is found in the Greek heuo and the Latin uro, "I burn"; stem 2, *a1u-es, lies at the base of the Latin Vesta and most probably also of the Greek Hestia. The intrinsic bond between the goddess and fire, ignis Vestae ("fire of Vesta"; Paulus-Festus, ed. W. M. Lindsay, 1913, p. 94 L.), was understood perfectly by the ancients, even though they were sometimes tempted to propose fanciful etymologies; Festus, for example, in order to explain Vesta's round sanctuary identifies her with the round earth (Paulus-Festus, ed. W. M. Lindsay, 1913, p. 320 L.). The semantic connection between the Latin goddess and the Greek goddess was conceded by Cicero (De natura deorum 2.67), who also believed that Vesta had been borrowed from the Greeks.
Although the cult of Vesta was known throughout the Italic regions, evidence of it comes above all from Latium. The cult of Vesta was established at Lavinium, so that it is possible that her worship with colleges of virgins in attendance was at one time more widespread throughout Latium. The goddess is clearly listed in the famous catalogue of Sabin divinities introduced in Rome in archaic times (Varro, De lingua Latina, 5.74).
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