sacred verses people have long believed the fire.It is light, heat, food, that is the basis of life.With the worship of fire associated with the ancient goddess Vesta and its cult.The temple of Vesta in ancient Rome was burning an eternal flame as a symbol of the family and the state.In other Indo-European peoples, too, maintained inextinguishable fire in the temples of the fire before the idols, and in the sacred centers of houses.
Goddess Vesta in ancient Rome
According to legend, she was born from the god and goddess of the space-time, that is, there was the first in the world designed for life and full of energy, space and time, launched the evolution.Unlike other Roman pantheon of deities, the goddess Vesta had no human face, it was the personification of light-bearing and life-giving flame, in her temple was not a statue or other image of the deity.Considering only pure element of fire, the Romans were the virgin goddess Vesta, has not accepted the marriage proposal of Mercury and Apollo.For this supreme god Jupiter gave her the privilege of being the most respected.One day, the goddess Vesta, nearly became a victim of the erotic desires fertility god Priapus.Grazing donkey near a loud roar woke dozing goddess and that saved her from dishonor.
Since then, the celebration of Vestal donkeys were forbidden to harness the work, but on the lamp of the goddess was depicted the head of the animal.
Outbreaks Vesta
It meant the flames greatness, prosperity and stability of the Roman Empire and was not supposed to go out under any circumstances.The most sacred place in the city of Rome was a temple of the goddess Vesta.
is believed that the custom to light the eternal flame in honor of the defenders of their country originates from the tradition of honoring the goddess.Since the Roman goddess Vesta was the patroness of the state, churches or altars erected it in every city.If the residents were leaving the city, they took with them the flame from the altar of Vesta, to light it there, where will arrive.Eternal fire of Vesta supports not only its temples but also in other public buildings.It organized a meeting of foreign ambassadors, banquets in their honor.
Vestal
so-called priestesses of the goddess, who had to keep the sacred fire.The girls were selected for this role carefully.They had to be the most representative noble houses have incomparable beauty, moral purity and chastity.All they had to conform to the image of the great goddess.His honorable service Vestal carried thirty years, all the while living in the temple.The first decade was devoted to progressive education, in other years, they painstakingly ten performed rituals, and the last decade taught his craft young Vestal.After that, women could return to his family and to get married.Then they were called "not news", thus emphasizing the right to marriage.Vestal was honored with the same reverence as the goddess herself.Honor and respect to him were so strong that they were able to Vestal even cancel the execution of the condemned, if during their processions met them on the way.
Vestal had to sanctify and preserve their virginity, as a violation of this rule was akin to the fall of Rome.Also, the state disaster threatened extinguished the flame on the altar of the goddess.If one or the other happens, Vestal punished by a cruel death.
history, the family and the state
history and the fate of the empire was in the minds of people so closely associated with the cult of Vesta, that the fall of Rome is directly linked to the fact that the governor Flavius Gratian in 382 year of our Lord put out the fire in the templeVesta and abolished the institution Vestal.
concept of family and the state in ancient Rome were on a par, it was considered a means of strengthening one another.Therefore, the goddess Vesta and was considered the guardian of the family hearth.Researchers believe that in ancient times, the high priest of Vesta was the king, just as the head of the family was the priest of the home.Each thought the name of the goddess of fire, and his personal patron.Flame why representatives of the hearth kept the same scruples as the vestal of the temple, as it was believed that this fire is the fortress family ties and benefit the whole family.If the flame suddenly faded, we saw in this a bad omen, and the error was corrected at once: with the help of a magnifying glass, the sun's rays and two wooden sticks that are rubbing against each other, fire kindled again.
Under the watchful and benevolent eye of the goddess Vesta were performed marriage ceremonies in her wedding ritual hearth baked bread.Here is family contracts, recognized the will of the ancestors.There is nothing wrong and unworthy should not be stored in front of the sacred fire of the goddess of the hearth.
In ancient Greece
There goddess called Hestia Vesta and had the same value, favoring the sacrificial fire and the family hearth.Her parents were Kronos and Rhea, and the youngest brother - Zeus.The Greeks did not refuse to see her as a woman, and portrayed her as a graceful majestic beauty in the cape.Before every important thing she sacrificed.The Greeks preserved even saying "begin with Hestia."The main focus of the goddess of fire was considered the Mount Olympus with its heavenly flame.The ancient hymns sung by Hestia "zelenotravnoy" Mistress "with a bright smile," and call for "happiness begin to blow" and "health with tselyascheyu hand of."
Slavic god
Was its goddess Vesta Slavs?Some sources say that was the name of their goddess of spring.She personified the awakening from winter sleep and the beginning of flowering.Life-giving light in this case was seen by our ancestors as a powerful force, it is a magical effect on the renewal of nature and fertility.It is possible that the pagan customs that involved a fire associated with the deification of the goddess.
Invite to his home the Slavic goddess of spring was not difficult.Enough time to get around eight houses in a clockwise direction, saying, "Good luck, happiness, abundance."Women who are washed in the spring meltwater had, according to legends, a chance for a long time to stay young and attractive, as the West itself.Slavic goddess symbolized also the victory of light over darkness.Therefore, it is particularly praised for the first day of the new year.
Who are Vesta Slavs
So call girls, who know the wisdom of farming and please the husband.They could marry without fear: West gets go-ahead from the hostess, the wise wife and caring mother.In contrast, the bride's name was precisely those young ladies who were not ready for marriage and family life.
gods and stars
In March 1807 the German astronomer Heinrich Olbers discovered the asteroid, which he called the name of the Roman goddess Vesta.In 1857, British scientist Norman Pogson open gave them the name of the ancient Greek asteroid her incarnation - Hestia.
