Temple of Vesta

The vestiges of the Temple of Vesta, an Ancient Roman Temple dedicated to the goddess of the hearth, can be seen next to the Atrium Vestae in the southeast corner of the Roman Forum. The Temple of Vesta housed an eternal light that symbolized the permanence of the Roman state and served as the temple of the Vestal Virgins, the priestesses devoted to Vesta. Rome's demise would be predicted if the flame were put out.

The Temple of Vesta, as well as the first Regia and Atrium Vestae in the Roman Forum, where the Vestal Virgins resided, were constructed by Numa Pompilius, the second king of Rome. Pompilius established the Vestal order, which is devoted to the goddess of the home hearth. As a result, the Virgins were tasked with cultivating sacred grain for the temple hearth. The Vestal Virgins were aristocratic, freeborn ladies who took a 30-year oath of celibacy. Other Roman women were supposed to practice celibacy until marriage and then bear offspring. The link between Rome and the gods would be thrown off if a Vestal Virgin committed adultery (which carries a death sentence) or the hearth flame went out, both of which would result in catastrophe.

The Vesta Temple is unlike other temples in that it is spherical rather than rectangular, giving it a distinctive appearance. The original roundhouse served as inspiration for the circular design of the Temple of Vesta. Some academics think that the dome of the Temple of Vesta symbolizes heaven, while the temple's round footprint is said to represent the earth. To reinforce the bond between Vesta's fire and the sun, the source of life, the temple has doors that face east. It has been discovered by archaeologists that the Temple of Vesta was constructed on a circular base. Twenty curved columns, every 0.52 meters in diameter and with a base of 1.6 meters in circumference, surround the temple's exterior. The temple has a radius of roughly 6.19 meters, the inner diameter of the temple is 8.6 meters, and the inner wall is 0.60 meters thick.