Hestia: Goddess of the Hearth
Hestiawas theGreekvirgin goddess of the hearth, home, and hospitality. InGreek mythology, she is the eldest daughter of Cronus and Rhea. In her role as a protector of the family and political community, sacrifices and offerings were regularly made to Hestia at the hearth within each private home and at the town orcity's public hearth. To the Romans, the goddess was known asVesta.In the Greek myths, Hestia's parents were Cronus and Rhea and so her younger siblings wereZeus,Hera,Demeter,Poseidon, andHades. Cronus, paranoid that one of his own children would overthrow his rule, swallowed them all. Zeus, however, was saved by his mother when she gave her husband a rock wrapped in cloth instead of the infant who later returned and made his father cough up his siblings. Hestia never married and remained a virgin, despite the amorous attentions ofApollo, Poseidon, and Priapus, the fertility god. Continue reading from World History
Vesta, inRoman religion, goddess of the hearth, identified with the GreekHestia. The lack of an easy source of fire in the early Romancommunityplaced a special premium on the ever-burning hearth fire, both publicly and privately maintained; thus, from the earliest times Vesta was assured of a prominent place in bothfamilyand state worship. Her worship was observed in every household along with that of thePenatesand theLares, and her image was sometimes encountered in the household shrine. Continue reading from Brittanica
FAQs
Why is Hestia left out? ›
Answer and Explanation: Hestia does not appear in many Greek myths because her responsibilities kept her out of the spotlight the majority of the time. Unlike some of her siblings, like Zeus and Poseidon, she had no interest in demonstrating her superiority or winning acclaim.
Is Hestia the goddess of hospitality? ›
Hestia is the ancient Greek goddess of the hearth and home, and of hospitality so her responsibilities included presiding over the preparation of family meals, baking bread, and entertaining guests.
What does Hestia goddess of hearth mean? ›
HESTIA. The goddess of the hearth, which is the emblem of the settled home. She is deemed the founder and maintainer of the family and the state, of civic concord and of public reverence for the gods.
Who is the kindest Greek god? ›
Hestia was regarded as one of the kindest and most compassionate amongst all the Gods. Perhaps the first example of a benign God or Goddess. Generally speaking, Hestia has a low key role in Greek Mythology.
What are the weaknesses of Hestia? ›
Her weaknesses: Cool emotionally, a little too calm, but could defend herself when necessary.
Has Zeus slept with Hestia? ›
They are Athena, Artemis and Hestia. So, we are sure that Zeus did never have affairs with any of those three.
What is the symbol of Hestia? ›
Hestia/Vesta is represented as a fully-draped woman or just as a naked flame and, although her temples were numerous, depictions of her were less common than other gods and goddesses in the Greco-Roman world. Her symbols consisted of hearth (fireplace), kettle, torch, candle, and mainly fire.
Is Hestia good or bad? ›
Hestia was the fairest and most righteous of the Olympian Gods and therefore dedicated to what she advocated.
Who did Hestia marry? ›
Hestia never married or had kids. Zeus granted her the right to remain an eternal virgin. In many ways she was the opposite of the goddess Aphrodite. Both Apollo and Poseidon wanted to marry Hestia, but she refused.
Hestia was one of the three Greek goddesses to be a virgin, never marrying or having children. Both Poseidon and Apollo asked for the goddess' hand in marriage, but she rebuked them both (Hymn 5 to Aphrodite).
What does Hestia fear? ›
She feared that discord would break out on Olympus were she to choose to marry one over the other. To ensure peace, Hestia swore to remain a virgin forever, and in gratitude Zeus gave her the honor of presiding over all sacrifices.
What is Hestia's famous line? ›
Not all powers are spectacular. Sometimes the hardest power to master is the power of yielding.
What do you pray to Hestia for? ›
I thank you for the solid walls I dwell within, I thank you for the warm and welcoming hearth, I thank you for the bread I break with friends and kin.
What does the Hestia tattoo mean? ›
Hestia tattoos typically represent the Greek goddess of the hearth, home, and family. They can symbolize warmth, comfort, and domesticity. Hestia is often depicted as a serene and nurturing figure, embodying hospitality, harmony, and the hearth fire.
What planet is Hestia? ›
Hestia (minor planet designation: 46 Hestia) is a large, dark main-belt asteroid. It is also the primary body of the Hestia clump, a group of asteroids with similar orbits. Hestia was discovered by N. R. Pogson on August 16, 1857, at the Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford.
Where did Hestia grow up? ›
Her childhood was spent inside the stomach of her father. Zeus helped his siblings, and Cronus threw up his children. Being the first swallowed, Hestia was the last one to be thrown up. That is why she is said to be the eldest and youngest daughter of Cronus and Rhea.
Is Hestia a patron god of any city or area? ›
Greek Goddess of the State
Many Greek cities and states had their own patron god. For example, Athens had Athena. However, Hestia was the goddess of the state in general. Her domain tied back to the role of the hearth in public life and the idea of a city as an extended family.
When was Hestia born? ›
Hestia is the firstborn child of Cronus as well as the eldest from the 12 Olympian Gods. The birth of Hestia dates to almost the first years of theogony and more precisely to the time of the dethronement of Uranus by his son, Cronus.
