I am sorry I forgot Vesta.

Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage, and Vesta, the Roman goddess of hearth and home, are interesting sisters.

Juno, the patroness of monogamous marriage, and Vesta, the virgin, indicate that the maid's honour is the same as the mother's honour, and the holy or divine quality of every family is depended on the recognition of virginal purity. The women were the guardians of the domestic hearth, and they were domestic divinities.

Vesta was recognized as the patroness of the nation at Rome, and she symbolizes the Roman state. The worship of Vesta, which was superintended by the Vestal Virgins, gave a holy or divine quality to the Roman state. Absolutely, the morality of the Roman state was based on religion.

I think the eternal sacred fire of the Vestal Virgins represented loyalty and love for the Roman state and the home. When Lucretia offered herself instead of escaping, she represents an excellent quality of ancient Rome and the ancient Roman nobility. Her love for country and home may have been an inspiraton for the women to become the guardians of the domestic hearth and the public hearth. The story of Lucretia have the same aspects as the combined aspects of Juno and Vesta.

By the way, today is Opalia, a festival of Ops, the mother of Juno and Vesta.

Norvegicus Lupus