Vesta
/ˈvɛs.tə/noun
The Roman goddess of the hearth and home, and the sacred fire associated with her worship.
Did you know?Vesta’s priestesses, the Vestal Virgins, guarded Rome’s sacred flame, and if it ever went out, Romans treated it as a terrifying omen for the state.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₁wes-
“to stay, dwell, remain”
Latin
Latin
Vesta
“the Roman goddess of the hearth”
Latin
Latin
vesta / focus Vestae
“the sacred hearth-fire dedicated to Vesta”
Late Latin
Latin
vestalis
“pertaining to Vesta; priestly guardian of the hearth”
Modern English
English
Vesta
“the Roman goddess of the hearth; also used as a name for related cultural and astronomical references”