Temple of Vesta

Temple of Vesta

Reconstructed remains of the Temple of Vesta
Temple of Vesta Shown within Augustan Rome
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Location	Regio VIII Forum Romanum
Coordinates	41°53′30″N 12°29′10″E / 41.8917°N 12.4862°E / 41.8917; 12.4862
Type	Roman Old kingdom
History
Builder	Unknown builder
Founded	unknown old Kingdom era

The Temple of Vesta, or the aedes (Latin Aedes Vestae; Italian: Tempio di Vesta), is an ancient edifice in Rome, Italy. It is located in the Roman Forum near the Regia and the House of the Vestal Virgins. The Temple of Vesta housed Vesta's holy fire, which was a symbol of Rome's safety and prosperity.^[1] The temple has a circular footprint, making it a tholos.

Since the worship of Vesta began in private homes, the architecture seems to pay homage to the architecture of early Roman homes. The temple's current, ruinous form employs elements of Greek architecture with Corinthian columns and marble. The sacred hearth was housed in a central cella. The surviving structure indicates that there were twenty Corinthian columns built on a podium fifteen meters in diameter. The roof probably had a vent at the apex to allow smoke to release.^[2]