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Vestments (SACRED nt funcum and when)

SACRED nt funcum, and when a band of colonists went forth from the city, they carried fire lighted at the common hearth with them.

At Rome it was believed that Æneas had brought in this manner the sacred fire from Troy. It was preserved in a temple of circular shape with vaulted roof, which stood on the Forum. The sacred fire therein was tended by six priestesses who were called Vestales. They were virgins like the goddess whom they served. They performed several important tions in the State religion of Rome. They assisted at all great public rites, and were present at such religious transactions as the consecration of temples. Their fixed term of service was 30 years, of which they passed 10 in a state of novitiate, 10 in performing the sacred duties of their office, and 10 in instructing novices. After this they were permitted to return to ordinary life if they pleased, though this was a privilege of which few availed themselves; for notwithstanding the drawbacks and restrictions of their position, it was one of great honor and even profit. Lictors preceded them when they appeared in public; consuls and prætors saluted and made way for them. They were maintained at the public expense, and they occupied special places of honor at the public games. If any proved unfaithful to her vows, she met with a terrible fate.

She was degraded and deprived of her insignia of office. She was then dressed like a corpse, placed in a close litter, and conducted with all the usual ceremonies attendant on a funeral to a piece of ground called the Campus Sceleratus, where she was buried alive. If the sacred fire of the goddess was allowed through negligence to go out, it was rekindled by the Pontifex Maximus by by the friction of two pieces of wood against each other. The festival of Vesta was celebrated on June 9, in each year, on June 15 the temple was cleaned and purified, and on March 1, the sacred fire and the laurel tree that shaded it were renewed.

VESTA, in astronomy, the name of the fourth asteroid, discovered by Olbers at Bremen, March 29, 1807, his second and last discovery among the asteroids.

It is the brightest among the small planets, sometimes being visible to the naked eye. After its discovery no more were found till the discovery of Astræa in 1845, more than 38 years later.