The City of God · Character

Vesta

Roman goddess of the hearth, often paired with Venus in discussions of domestic virtue.

minor

Also known as Venus, Vesta Venus

Vesta shows up with force in Book III: External Calamities and the Failure of the Pagan Gods. The page is where that presence becomes real.

Goddess of love, mother of Aeneas, involved in adultery with Anchises.

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In Book III: External Calamities and the Failure of the Pagan Gods: Goddess of love, mother of Aeneas, involved in adultery with Anchises.

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See Vesta in part i book i

Character Web

19 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Diverse Historical and Biblical Figures
Patriarchs and Pagan Figures

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This chapter is the dramatic climax because it marks the irreversible psychological and spiritual turning poin…

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In the story

Vesta appears across 10 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Book III: External Calamities and the Failure of the Pagan Gods
Goddess of love, mother of Aeneas, involved in adultery with Anchises.
III
Goddess who committed adultery with Anchises, mother of Aeneas.
Chapter V: The Inconsistency of the Gods' Anger at Adultery
Goddess of love, mother of Aeneas, involved in adultery with Anchises.
XIII
Implied as unable to assist the Romans in obtaining wives equitably.
Chapter XVIII
Goddess whose temple was destroyed by fire, demonstrating the gods' inability to protect their own shrines.
Of the temple of Concord, which was erected by a decree of the senate on the scene of these seditions and massacres.
Implied as the goddess who received the golden apple, leading to the rape of Helen and the destruction of Troy.
Chapter X: The Absurdity of Assigning Multiple Gods to Different Parts of the World
Identified with fire and virginity, yet sometimes called Venus; her worship by virgins is contrasted with the birth of Christ from a virgin.
Chapter X: The Absurdity of Assigning Multiple Gods to Different Parts of the World
Mentioned as being conflated with Vesta, and as having multiple forms (virgin, wife, harlot); her relationship with Vulcan and Mars is referenced.
Concerning certain stars which the pagans have called by the names of their gods
Associated with the brightest star, Lucifer; also identified with the moon.
That All Marvels Are Not of Nature's Production, but That Some Are Due to Human Ingenuity and Others to Diabolic Contrivance
Pagan goddess associated with the temple containing the inextinguishable lamp, used as an example of demonic manifestation.

Chapter companion notes

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See Vesta in part i book i

See Vesta in Book III: External Calamities and the Failure of the Pagan Gods