- Fasta (Frisian)
Fasta was the first folk-mother, or head of the order of priestesses, of the
Frisians according to theOera Linda Book , which is generally considered to be a hoax. Appointed directly by the goddessFrya , Fasta ruled from 2194 BC and was still reigning forty-nine years later (2145 BC).Probably inspired by knowledge of the Roman goddess Vesta, Fasta was said to head an order of priestesses that, just like the
Vestal Virgins , were vowed to absolute celibacy, and who guarded a sacred, eternally burning flame. The Oera Linda Book describes the daily routine of the priestesses, which included spending six hours a day, in two shifts of three hours each, bending their knees in devotion before the flame. Each temple, of which there were many, had its own sacred flame and twenty-eight priestesses, so that seven would always be in attendance at any one time. The order of priestesses governed Frisian society for many centuries until it eventually lost power to a militaristic monarchy.References
Ottema, J. G., & Sandbach, W. R. (1876). "The Oera Linda Book, from a manuscript of the thirteenth century." London: Trübner & Co.
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