Editing Vesta (mythology) (section)

===Roman Empire===
Roman tradition required that the leading priest of the Roman state, the ''[[pontifex maximus]]'' reside in a ''domus publicus'' ("publicly owned house"). After assuming the office of ''pontifex maximus'' in 12&nbsp;BC, [[Augustus]] gave part of his private house to the Vestals as public property and incorporated a new shrine of Vesta within it. The old shrine remained in the ''[[Forum Romanum]]'''s temple of Vesta, but Augustus' gift linked the public hearth of the state with the official home of the ''pontifex maximus'' and the emperor's [[Palatine Hill|Palatine]] residence. This strengthened the connection between the office of ''pontifex maximus'' and the cult of Vesta. Henceforth, the office of ''pontifex maximus'' was tied to the title of emperor;{{sfn|Johnston|2004|p=307}}<ref>{{harvnb|Beard|North|Price|1998a|pp=189–190}} vol. 1</ref> Emperors were automatically priests of Vesta, and the ''pontifices'' were sometimes referred to as ''pontifices Vestae'' ("priests of Vesta").<ref>{{harvnb|Beard|North|Price|1998a|p=191}} vol. 1</ref> In 12&nbsp;BC, 28 April (first of the five day ''[[Floralia]]'') was chosen ''ex [[senatus consultum]]'' to commemorate the new shrine of Vesta in Augustus' home on the Palatine.<ref>Degrassi (1963) 66; 133; [[Ovid]], ''Fasti'' 4.943-54</ref>{{sfn|Herbert-Brown|1994|p=75}} The latter's hearth was the focus of the Imperial household's traditional religious observances. Various emperors led official revivals and promotions of the Vestals' cult, which in its various locations remained central to Rome's ancient traditional cults into the 4th century. Dedications in the Atrium of Vesta, dating predominantly AD 200 to 300, attest to the service of several ''Virgines Vestales Maxime''.{{sfn|Salzman|1990|pp=157–160}} Vesta's worship began to decline with the rise of [[Christianity]]. In ca. 379, [[Gratian]] stepped down as ''pontifex maximus'';{{sfn|Johnston|2004|p=307}} in 382 he confiscated the ''Atrium Vestae''{{sfn|Williams|2008|p=20}} and simultaneously withdrew its public funding.{{sfn|Salzman|1990|pp=157–160}} In 391, despite official and public protests, [[Theodosius I]] closed the temple, and extinguished the sacred flame.{{sfn|Watkin|2009|p=92}} Finally, [[Coelia Concordia]] stepped down as the last ''Vestalis Maxima'' ("chief Vestal") in 394.{{sfn|Lefkowitz|Fant|2005|p=306}}