Roman vs Greek

[Chesna]

I have a question....
I am interested in a Greek Goddess.. however not too much is known about her, so some one suggested that I study the Roman equal which has a bit more info...so my question is. is this ok, to subsitute Greek for Roman and Roman for Greek??

Chesna

[MoonDragn]

It would depend on the goddess. The romans had a totally different focus on some of the goddesses than the greeks. So they protrayed some in a totally different aspect. It may be good or bad depending on what you like about them.

[Verthandi]

It would depend on the goddess. The romans had a totally different focus on some of the goddesses than the greeks. So they protrayed some in a totally different aspect. It may be good or bad depending on what you like about them.
Heh, like Ares/Mars. ;)

Chesna, I personally don't see a problem with it; I see the Greek deities as different aspects of the Roman deities and vice versa. However, some of those deities did change when the Romans tooks over and their personalities would likewise be slightly different.

[raven grimassi]

I have a question....
I am interested in a Greek Goddess.. however not too much is known about her, so some one suggested that I study the Roman equal which has a bit more info...so my question is. is this ok, to subsitute Greek for Roman and Roman for Greek??

Chesna

The quick answer is that Roman and Greek deities are not necessarily interchangeable as carbon copies.

Perhaps knowing which goddess you are referring to might be helpful in obtaining some insights. Some Roman deities are a blend of Etruscan ones adopted and modified by the Romans. Others are Greek imports relatively unchanged, and some are modifications of Greek deities. The Roman goddess Diana is an example of an indigenous goddess (likely rooted in earlier Etruscan religion) who was modified by the Greek influence of Artemis.

Best regards - Raven

[~Elise~]

I am answering this from a hard polytheistic POV. No, it is not okay to switch Greek/Roman. They are each deities in their own right and deserve to be honored as such.

Who is your Goddess that not much is known about? Maybe we all can help you find some info.

JMO and YMMV,

Elise

[Chesna]

I am answering this from a hard polytheistic POV. No, it is not okay to switch Greek/Roman. They are each deities in their own right and deserve to be honored as such.

Who is your Goddess that not much is known about? Maybe we all can help you find some info.

JMO and YMMV,

Elise

I am interested in Hestia her Roman equivelant is Vesta. My gut feeling is that yes they are different and they have different feels, vibes, energies ect. Most of the internet searches I have done come up with basic info, some myths that pertain to her, basic symbols ect.. but I want to make sure I have covered my bases before I design a ritual to her and start some meditations. So any help and thoughs would be great.

Chesna

[Arion]

This doesn't answer your question, but I thought you might be interested in this webpage on Hestia. I go to this site for much of my greek goddess research.

http://www.paleothea.com/SortaSingles/Hestia.html

[Chesna]

This doesn't answer your question, but I thought you might be interested in this webpage on Hestia. I go to this site for much of my greek goddess research.

http://www.paleothea.com/SortaSingles/Hestia.html


Thank you purple panther- I believe Ihave looked at this site.. I just want to make sure i have learned all I can. There are many questions I have.. I don't know maybe I'll have to ask her myself.

Chesna

[~Elise~]

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/h/hestia.html&e=7627

http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/Hestia.html

http://web.uvic.ca/grs/bowman/myth/gods/hestia.html

http://www.greekmythology.com/Olympians/Hestia/hestia.html

http://messagenet.com/myths/bios/hestia.html

http://www.paleothea.com/SortaSingles/Hestia.html

http://www.thezodiac.com/hestia.htm

http://www.theoi.com/Kronos/Hestia.html

http://www.goddessgift.com/goddess-myths/greek_goddess_hestia.htm

http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/grecoromanmyth1/p/Hestia.htm

http://gogreece.about.com/cs/mythology/a/mythhestia.htm

http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/bl_myth_gods_grecoroman_hestia.htm


You may have run across some of these, but maybe there will be something somewhere that you can use.

Elise

[raven grimassi]

I am interested in Hestia her Roman equivelant is Vesta. My gut feeling is that yes they are different and they have different feels, vibes, energies ect. Most of the internet searches I have done come up with basic info, some myths that pertain to her, basic symbols ect.. but I want to make sure I have covered my bases before I design a ritual to her and start some meditations. So any help and thoughs would be great.

Chesna

It is interesting to note that fire was among the earliest representations of divinity. Hestia, or Vesta, as both the personification of fire and its keeper, is a powerful primal figure.

In the book Who's Who in Mythology (by Alexander Murray) we find mention of Hestia traditionally receiving offerings of young shoots of grain, first fruits of the harvest, and young cows. Libations of water, wine and oil (most likely olive oil) were made to Vesta when prayers were spoken.

It is noteworthy that Hestia was associated with the hearth fire in both Greece and Rome. The hearth of every home was a sanctuary to Hestia, and it was not uncommon for her altar to be the mantle. The hearth is an interesting symbol in and of itself when we consider the ancient places of goddess worship being the cave (or grotto), the woodland grove, and the standing stones. The symbols of fire, wood, cave, and stone all come together in one place as the hearth itself. Old hearths were made of piled and mortared stone. The cave-like opening of the hearth housed the wood and fire. Across the top of the hearth was laid a mantle stone slab.

At the hearth, the women tended the sacred fire of the home, a domesticated version of the primal Vesta fire. In ancient Rome, ancestral shrines were placed above the hearth as a living connection to those family members who dwelled in the Underworld. Here we can see the cave symbolism in the hearth as an entrance to the ancestral realm.

Best regards - Raven

[Chesna]

It is interesting to note that fire was among the earliest representations of divinity. Hestia, or Vesta, as both the personification of fire and its keeper, is a powerful primal figure.

In the book Who's Who in Mythology (by Alexander Murray) we find mention of Hestia traditionally receiving offerings of young shoots of grain, first fruits of the harvest, and young cows. Libations of water, wine and oil (most likely olive oil) were made to Vesta when prayers were spoken.

It is noteworthy that Hestia was associated with the hearth fire in both Greece and Rome. The hearth of every home was a sanctuary to Hestia, and it was not uncommon for her altar to be the mantle. The hearth is an interesting symbol in and of itself when we consider the ancient places of goddess worship being the cave (or grotto), the woodland grove, and the standing stones. The symbols of fire, wood, cave, and stone all come together in one place as the hearth itself. Old hearths were made of piled and mortared stone. The cave-like opening of the hearth housed the wood and fire. Across the top of the hearth was laid a mantle stone slab.

At the hearth, the women tended the sacred fire of the home, a domesticated version of the primal Vesta fire. In ancient Rome, ancestral shrines were placed above the hearth as a living connection to those family members who dwelled in the Underworld. Here we can see the cave symbolism in the hearth as an entrance to the ancestral realm.

Best regards - Raven

Thank you!! Most of the above I discovered on my searches. I am working a ritual for her around fire. I also found it interesting that because of her status as the keeper of home/hearth fires Hestia was also given all first and last offerings in all public offerings, celebrations and prayers. It was to show her importance in their lives. Based on my research I am beginning to wonder if there is so little known b-cuz she was such a part of people's lives. They just did what needed to be done and no need to record it. Who knows, but it is a thought I had.
I have decided that I will lok up Vesta to see if I can learn more, but wil stick mainly to things that I know are Hestia.

thanks to all who helped

Chesna

[raven grimassi]

Based on my research I am beginning to wonder if there is so little known b-cuz she was such a part of people's lives. They just did what needed to be done and no need to record it. Who knows, but it is a thought I had.

Interesting, and another thought may be that because of the "primal sacredness" of Hestia/Vesta that little was recorded about her (sort of the untouched virgin concept).

I do not recall where I read this, but I recall a mention that the Romans did not make any statues of Vesta (and all statues and images were actually of the Greek counterpart Hestia). I do not know if this is correct, but if so it might lend to the idea that she should not be touched. I suppose that her association with fire might be part of the admonishment as well (metaphors abound there). If I recall correctly, it was forbidden by Roman law to touch a vestal virgin, even if just a casual & accidental "brushing up against" in a public setting.

Best regards - Raven

[TYRRHENUS]

Raven is correct. There were no Roman-made statuary of Vesta. All were in fact Greek imports.
This may seem trivial, but it goes to the validity of a comment made by Varro that the Romans worshipped the gods without statues for 170 years. Varro was going by the mythological foundation of Rome in 753 BC. Varro was wrong in that statuary has been discovered in Rome predating 583, however he was also right because all of which that can be dated to before 583 is of Greek or Etruscan origin.
That by the early 6th century BC Romans could afford to transport artisans to Rome, pay for their expenses, then send them home testifies to the economic prowess of the city.

[Enozgirl]

I seem to recall reading somewhere (in my own recent research of Hestia and Vesta for a similiar reason), that the reason they don't show up much in myths and "statuary" is because they were busy tending the hearth fires. They didn't get involved in much of the outward politicing that the other Gods and Goddesses seemed to enjoy.

If you pick up Ellen Dugan's book "Cottage Witchery", there's a section about Hestia and Vesta, and their differences and similarities. I'd give you more info, but I only just read it last night and the book's sitting on my nightstand at home :)

[Chesna]

I seem to recall reading somewhere (in my own recent research of Hestia and Vesta for a similiar reason), that the reason they don't show up much in myths and "statuary" is because they were busy tending the hearth fires. They didn't get involved in much of the outward politicing that the other Gods and Goddesses seemed to enjoy.

If you pick up Ellen Dugan's book "Cottage Witchery", there's a section about Hestia and Vesta, and their differences and similarities. I'd give you more info, but I only just read it last night and the book's sitting on my nightstand at home :)

WOW an actual book where they are mentioned. I may have to look up this book. The more I think about it the more I have decided that they are different.. I am reading up on Vesta only to increase my own knowledge base, but I don't think I am going to subsitute Vesta info for Hestia.

Chesna