HESTIA
Goddess of Family Peace
(Roman - Vesta)

Hestia is the daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea and the sister of Zeus. This firstborn of the Olympians is the goddess of fire, particularly the hearth, the symbol of the house around which a newborn child is carried before it's received into the family. The center of Greek life was the domestic hearth, which was also used as a sacrificial altar. Hestia, as the goddess of the hearth, represented personal security and happiness, and the sacred duty of hospitality.

She is one of the three virgin goddesses, although both Apollo and Poseidon wooed her as rival suitors following the dethronement of Cronus by Zeus. Hestia at that time swore by Zeus's head to remain a virgin forever and Zeus rewarded her efforts to keep peace among the two gods by awarding her the first offering of every public sacrifice.

Her temples were circular and served by virgin priestesses who dedicated their lives to her. Each city also had a public hearth sacred to Hestia, where the fire was never allowed to go out. Many triangular or leaf-shaped ladles in stone or clay have been discovered in Cretan and Mycenaean shrines - these seem to have been used for tending the sacred fire.

As goddess of the hearth, she never left the 'lofty adobe of the eternal gods' (Hesiod, Theogony) and never intervened in the stormy history of the gods. Alone among the great Olympians, she never took part in wars or disputes. She was the central point, the meeting place, and received the first part of every sacrifice. She's charitable to those who flee to her for protection.

Hestia was universally revered, not only because she was the mildest, most upright and most charitable of all the Olympians, but as having invented the art of building houses. Although she was rarely depicted in art, and because of her serene and stable nature played almost no part in myths, she was held in the highest honor, by both the Greeks and the Romans.

The goddess of family peace is shown holding a branch with fruit,
while Ganymede fills Zeus' cup with wine - Ancient Grecian vase

A drunken brute named Priapus once tried to violate her following a feast attended by the gods, after everyone had passed out from too much food, drink and partying. Luckily for Hestia, a donkey brayed out loud and she awoke to find Priapus about to jump into her bed. Her screams sent the startled Priapus running off in comic terror. That myth served to give warning against sacriligious ill-treatment of female guests who are under the protection of the domestic or public hearth. It's notable that even the donkey, a symbol of lust, is the one to announce Priapus's criminal intent.

The Roman worship of Vesta, their name for Hestia, was more elaborate. They believed that her cult was first brought into their country, Latinum, by Aeneas. One of the early kings of Rome, Numa Pompilius, built a temple in her honor, where the famous Palladium of Troy was preserved, brought there by Aeneas and believed to be an image of Athena or a shield that "has fallen out of the heaven."

The welfare of the whole city was believed to depend on the preservation of the sacred flame kept in the temple and attended by priestesses called the Vestal Virgins. First there were four Vestal Virgins, later six; they were under the control of Pontifex Maximus, the head of the priestly college which directed the religious affairs in Rome. When there was a vacancy he was the one who elected a new Vestal. The candidate had to be between six and ten years old, perfect in mind and body, and of Italian birth.

The training took ten years, another ten were spent in carrying out the sacred duties, and finally, ten more in training the instructing novices. At the age of forty, the Vestal was free to return to the outside world and even take a husband if she wished. The cult of Vesta was observed in Rome until the year 380, when the sacred fire was quenched and the priestesses dispersed by Emperor Theodosius.

Hestia, in all dwellings of men and immortals

Yours is the highest honor, the sweet wine offered

First and last at the feast, poured out to you duly.

Never without you can gods or mortals hold banquet.

(An offering to Hestia at the beginning of each meal )

Below are some of the source books used for reference

Egyptian Mythology's Here!

Roman Mythology's Here!