Hestia
Goddess of Hearth
Parents and Family
Hestia was the first daughter of Cronos and Rhea. She's the sister of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera, and Demeter. Though she's in a higher family she is not well known and doesn't have many major events or myths connected to her.
Her Story
She was the first to be swallowed by her father, but he was then given an elixir to vomit them all back up. Hestia was the last to come out so she is known as the oldest and the youngest. She was also one of the original 12 Olympic deities. After she was pursued by both Apollo and her brother Poseidon, she swore to remain a maiden forever.
Pictures of Hestia
Hestia's symbol was the torch.
She gave up her throne to Dionysus.
She was also known as Vesta in Rome.
Traditions
Hestia had many different traditions dedicated to her. All sacrifices, like fruit and young cows were made to her. Prayers were said before and after meals then a song was sung. All babies were blessed at her hearth. She had six virgin vestals that watched over her fire always. They would start at age 6-10 and dedicated their services for 30 years. The vestals swore a vow of chastity which, if broken, they would be buried alive. A celebration was made in her honor on June 9th and her temple was cleaned on June 15th. On March 1st the fire was extinguished and renewed, but it couldn't be lit with any ordinary flame.
Works Cited
Adkins, Lesley, and Roy Adkins. Dictionary of Roman Religion. New York: Facts on File,
1996. Print.
Murray, Alexander S. "DEITIES OF THE HIGHEST ORDER._______________________."
Elfinspell: Hestia, or Vesta, Manual of Mythology, by Alexander S. Murray, Revised
Edition, with Additional Notes by S. Rhoads, Online Text, Religion, Mythology, Legend
of the Antiquity, Greek, Roman Deities,. David McKay, 1895. Web. 5 Nov. 2014.
1996. Print.
"Hestia." EBSCO. Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1995. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
Murray, Alexander S. "DEITIES OF THE HIGHEST ORDER._______________________."
Elfinspell: Hestia, or Vesta, Manual of Mythology, by Alexander S. Murray, Revised
Edition, with Additional Notes by S. Rhoads, Online Text, Religion, Mythology, Legend
of the Antiquity, Greek, Roman Deities,. David McKay, 1895. Web. 5 Nov. 2014.