In Roman religion, the goddess of the hearth, identified with the Greek Hestia. Because maintaining a hearth fire was important in ancient times, she was worshiped in every household. Her state worship was elaborate: her temple in Rome had a perpetual fire that was attended by the Vestal Virgins. The fire was officially extinguished and renewed annually on March 1st; its extinction at any other time was viewed as a portent of disaster to Rome
the brightest asteroid but the fourth to be discovered (Roman mythology) goddess of the hearth and its fire whose flame was tended by vestal virgins; counterpart of Greek Hestia
[ 'ves-t& ] (noun.) From the Latin vestale, (to dwell, stay, similar in idea to the Greek hestia.) Vesta itself came to mean chaste, pure, or virgin, based from this goddess.