Note 230 — RADICALS.
Reading edition
Ast, Asta, Esta, signified fire; and also the Deity of that element. The Greeks expressed it Ἑστια, and the Romans, Vesta. Plutarch, speaking of the sacred water of Numicius being discovered by the priestesses of this Deity, calls them the virgins of [230]Hestia. Esta and Asta signified also a sacred hearth. In early times every district was divided according to the number of the sacred hearths; each of which constituted a community, or parish. They were, in different parts, styled Puratheia, Empureia, Prutaneia, and Prætoria: also [231]Phratriai, and Apaturia: but the most common name was Asta.