For which the ancient Greek goddess of the hearth received the main privilege from Zeus and other facts about Hestia

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The gods Apollo and Poseidon claimed her hand, but she vowed to remain a virgin forever, after which Zeus, the king of the gods, bestowed upon her the honor of leading all sacrifices. Hestia was a gentle, balanced, serene, forgiving and worthy virgin goddess of the hearth, hospitality and sacrificial fire, who was honored not only on earth, but also on Mount Olympus. Unlike other gods and goddesses, she was not involved in scandals and intrigues, as a rule, she was portrayed as a modest middle-aged woman, dressed in modest clothes, sometimes standing by a large fire or carrying a staff.

Known among the twelve Olympians in Greek mythology, Hestia (Vesta in Roman myths) was the firstborn of the titans Kronos and Rhea and was the sister of the Greek supreme god Zeus. Despite the fact that Hestia figured in several myths, she was one of the most revered and influential goddesses among the people of Ancient Greece, because she was the goddess of the household. She usually received the first offerings in household ceremonies such as weddings, births, and the arrival of brides and slaves. Hestia means hearth, respectively, the goddess personified the sacredness and importance of the elements.

1. Birth

Goddess Hestia is the eldest daughter of the titans Kronos and Rhea. It was believed that Hestia was born twice. She was the first child to be swallowed by the maddened titan Kronos. Shortly thereafter, fearing for his power, he swallowed four of his five remaining children: Demeter, Hades, Hera, and Poseidon.

Thanks to Rhea's quick thinking, Zeus was able to avoid the sad event that befell his brothers and sisters. A mature and strong Zeus will later return and cause Kronos to vomit his siblings from his stomach. It is here that the second birth of Hestia takes place. She was the last child that Kronos spewed out.

It is for this reason that Hestia is referred to as the “first and last” deity of the original six Olympians.

2. Hestia

Typically, Hestia's name means "hearth" or "fireplace". On the other hand, her name could also mean "home" or "family." The third and final meaning of Hestia relates to the state. For example, in almost every Greek Pritanea (administrative center of government) a huge hearth was found dedicated to the goddess. This was in the places where the ancient Greeks offered several sacrifices and prayers to the Greek gods. The hearth was also a place where people gathered and formed strong social and civic ties. And as a rule, such centers made Hestia usually associated with issues of public or state welfare.

3. Privileges

Unlike many Greek gods and goddesses, Hestia never had a spouse or lover. She, along with the goddesses Athena and Artemis, pledged to remain an eternal virgin. Thus, Hestia, Artemis, and Athena make up the famous three virgin goddesses whose hearts cannot be conquered or trapped in romantic love (not even by Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love).

Through this vow, Zeus - the king of the gods - elevated Hestia to the position of a royal hearth, perhaps the highest honor that any god can receive on Mount Olympus. It is for this reason that some stories describe her as the main of the goddesses of virgin divinity, respectively, she surpasses even Hera and Athena in powers.

Hestia's oath remained unwavering, rejecting offers of love from Poseidon and Apollo. Because of this, her fellow gods always came to her protection when another deity threatened her chastity. Once Priapus, the younger god of fertility, tried to rape the sleeping Hestia. The roar of a donkey made Hestia wake up and fight off Priapus, who was then severely beaten by the gods for his sins.

4. Image

Of all the twelve Olympians, Hestia is one of the least depicted deities. And even when she is shown, she is portrayed as a modest woman, dressed in discreet clothes with a hood on her head or in a modest tunic. She usually carried a staff or flame in her hands.

Hestia's modest portrayal stems from the belief that she was particularly concerned with maintaining the community's family and household chores. Unlike the dramatic lives and adventures of her siblings and other Greek gods, Hestia remained chained to her task. For this she earned the respect and admiration of all the gods.

The home goddess has also been described as pure and peaceful. She usually maintains a neutral stance, trying not to take sides.

5. Cult

The hearth played an integral role in the homes of the ancient Greeks. It has been used for centuries for heating and cooking. The hearth was often central to the home, allowing the family to make sacrifices and pray to the gods. It was believed that Hestia received the richest part of every sacrifice and prayer offered to the Greek gods at the hearth. The domestic pig was considered the most beloved sacrificial animal of Hestia. Other stories say she chose a one-year-old cow instead.

The ancient Greeks paid great attention to the maintenance of the hearths found in temples and community centers (pritaneum or agora). They believed that the hearth fire in it had a direct bearing on the cohesion and unity in the community. If not properly maintained, society can plunge into chaos. Lighting a fire in the hearth, the Greeks performed a number of special rituals and prayers.

Women were usually elected as heads of the cult and temples of Hestia. They were also matriarchs in their families. However, at the community or state level, a high-ranking civil servant or an influential government official was chosen to lead prayers to Hestia.

Compared to other Greek deities, Hestia did not have many dedicated cult centers and temples. This was due to the fact that the Greeks believed that every temple in the country was the habitat of Hestia. However, in Sparta and Ermioni there are many temples dedicated to Hestia.

In almost all the temples of Ancient Greece - whether in Delphi (that is, in the temple of Apollo) or in the great hall at Mycenae - hearths were established for offering prayers and sacrifices to various Greek deities. Since these hearths were viewed as the embodiment of Hestia, Ancient Greece revered Hestia as the gateway to the deity on Mount Olympus, that is, she was viewed as an intermediary between the Greeks and their gods.

The goddess Hestia played a significant role in almost all household spheres of Greek society. Its importance stems from the use of the hearth, which was intended for cooking, sacrifices and keeping the home warm. In this regard, the ancient Greeks reserved the first and last offering of wine for the goddess. Likewise, Hestia was believed to deserve a better share of the sacrifices reserved for the Greek gods.

Read also about how ancient greek gods fooled people, turning into animals, then posing as mere mortals.