Editing Vesta (mythology) (section)

===Hearth===
Concerning the status of Vesta's hearth, [[Dionysius of Halicarnassus]] had this to say: "And they regard the fire as consecrated to Vesta, because that goddess, being the Earth and occupying the central position in the universe, kindles the celestial fires from herself."<ref>[[Dionysius of Halicarnassus]], ''Roman Antiquities'' II 66, 3</ref> Ovid agreed, saying: "Vesta is the same as the earth; both have the perennial fire: the Earth and the sacred Fire are both symbolic of home."<ref>Ovid, ''Fasti'' VI. 269–270</ref> The sacred flames of the hearth were believed to be indispensable for the preservation and continuity of the Roman State: [[Cicero]] states it explicitly. The purity of the flames symbolised the vital force that is the root of the life of the community. It was also because the virgins' ritual concern extended to the agricultural cycle and ensured a good harvest that Vesta enjoyed the title of ''Mater'' ("Mother").<ref>A. Brelich "Vesta" ''Albae Vigiliae'' n. s. 7 (Zurich 1949) p. 48-66 as cited by D. P. Harmon "Religion in Latin Elegists" ''Aufstieg und Niedergang der Römische Welt'' 1986 p. 1971.</ref>

The fecundating power of sacred fire is testified to in [[Plutarch]]'s version of the birth of [[Romulus]] and [[Remus]],<ref>[[Plutarch]] ''Romulus'' 2.1–6.</ref> in the birth of king [[Servius Tullius]],<ref>Dionysius of Halicarnassus IV  2, 1–4; Ovid ''Fasti'' VI, 633–636.</ref> whose mother Ocresia becomes pregnant after sitting upon a [[phallus]] that appeared among the ashes of the ara of the god [[Vulcanus]] by order of [[Tanaquil]] wife of king [[Tarquinius Priscus]], and in the birth of [[Caeculus]], the founder of [[Praeneste]], who had the power to kindle or extinguish fires at will.<ref>Serv. ''Ad Aen.'' VII 678; Angelo Brelich ''Vesta'' 1949, pp.70, 97–98.</ref> All these mythical or semi-legendary characters show a mystical mastery of fire. Servius's hair was kindled by his father without hurting him, and even his statue in the temple of [[Fortuna]] Primigenia was unharmed by fire after his assassination.<ref>Ovid, ''Fasti'' VI 625–626.</ref>