Hey guys, I was reading through my copy of Mary Beard's "Religions of Rome, Vol. 1: A History", the other day, when I scanned a section where an ancient author [Roman!] declared that sheep were the especial offerings dedicated to virgin-goddesses, in reference to Vesta. It was then that something mentally clicked: the Irish Brighid is associated with sheep [even Iron Age archaeologist have found offering pits with the skeletal remains of male sheep in them, after they had pressumibly been consumed during Imbolc]; Vesta was given offerings of sheep; and even Gabija's Christian incarnation--Agnus--is associated with sheep. So, I wonder if there might be a PIE impetus at heart, here. Then again, the pre-Zoroastrian virginal water-goddess, Anahita, had as her cult-animal, the sheep. Any thoughts or feelings? Can anyone else think of, and cite, any other evidence where hearth-goddesses might be associated with offerings of sheep to some degree? One wondes if it may extend to Siberia or Mongolia, where many hearth-cult traditions certainly originated?

Take Care and Happy Holidays,
Wade