Who was the Roman goddess of the hearth?

The Roman goddess of the hearth is Vesta. In Roman religion, Vesta was revered as the goddess of the hearth, home, and family, and she was responsible for maintaining the sacred flame that represented the stability and security of the household and the Roman state. The Vestal Virgins were priestesses dedicated to her, tasked with keeping the sacred fire burning in the Temple of Vesta in the Roman Forum. This symbolism linked her closely to domesticity, community, and the well-being of both family life and the state.

In contrast, Juno is known primarily as the goddess of marriage and childbirth, Minerva is the goddess of wisdom and war, and Venus represents love and beauty. While these other deities held significant roles in Roman mythology, Vesta's specific association with the hearth distinctly marks her as the goddess responsible for the domestic sphere.