Page:Greek and Roman Mythology.djvu/165

 THE ROMAN GODS 151 on the oldest Eoman coin, the as; and afterwards repre- sentations of the special god of harbors, Portumis, were made to imitate this well-known Janus type. 196. Like the Hestia of the Greeks, Vesta embodied the power manifesting itself in the hearth fire ; and the hearth fire itself was worshiped as a goddess, with- out any special image. The city also had its common hearth, with its Vesta and its Penates. At Borne this was situated in a small circular temple on the south side of the Forum. The service of the goddess was attended to by six maidens, who, being chosen in childhood by the Pontifex Maximus, were required to remain unmarried for thirty years. If one of these Vestal virgins allowed the sacred fire to go out, or became guilty of unchastity, the severest penalties were inflicted upon her by the Pontifex Maximus. The sacred fire could be newly kindled only by means of the old fire drill, or, afterwards, by the burning glass. The Vestalia, the principal festival of the goddess, came on the 9th of June, and on this day the matrons offered sacrifices of food on the common hearth. 197. In contrast to Vesta, who occupied the position of a benefactress, yet supplementary to her, was Volcanus, the representative of the power of fire that destroys all the works of men's hands, i.e. the god of conflagrations. Since it was necessary that he should be kept removed from the houses of the city, he had his temple outside the walls, in the Campus Martius. His principal festival was celebrated on the 23d of August, at the time when, after the ingathering of the harvest, the full granaries especially needed his protection. In order that he might subdue a fire that had once broken out, he was called in