Myth of Hestia
Myth of Hestia
Hestia, Greek Goddess
of Hearth and Home
Hestia, Greek Goddess of the sacred fire, was once known as "Chief of the
Goddesses" and "Hestia, First and Last". She was the most influential and widely
revered of the Greek goddesses.
Though the goddess Hestia was once the most important of the Greek goddesses,
she (like her counterpart, the Roman goddess Vesta) is virtually unknown today.
Her name means “the essence”, the true nature of things.
Scholars often refer to the goddess Hestia as "the forgotten goddess".
Because of the her association with hospitality, the word Hestia can mostly be
heard today used in the names of inns and restaurants, making some people wonder
if “Hestia” is the name of a franchise.
Unlike the other Greek goddesses, Hestia does not have a "story" . . .
there were few adventures to record about her. She simply "is".
Few images of the goddess Hestia exist. A very "private person", her symbols,
the sacred flame and the circle, are usually used to represent Hestia in works
of art.
Hestia's brief stories, retold here, are too scanty to instruct us. It is her
traits, not her actions, that most define her. These virtues define the goddess
Hestia: mild, gentle, forgiving, peaceful, serene, dignified, calm, secure,
stable, welcoming, and, above all else, well-centered.
Of all the Olympian gods and goddesses, Hestia was the first born. And also
the last. This takes some explaining . . .
Her parents were the Titans, Cronus & Rhea. She was their first child.
But Cronus, made fearful by a prophecy that one of his children would grow up to
usurp his throne, quickly swallowed the infant Hestia (as he did the brothers
and sisters that followed) in order to prevent the fulfillment of the
prophecy.
Later, following the birth of Zeus, the grieving goddess Rhea tricked her
husband into swallowing a rock wrapped in swaddling instead of the infant,
causing him to vomit up all the babies he had swallowed. First in, Hestia was
the last to be disgorged.
Hence, the goddess was often called "Hestia, First and Last".
The goddess Hestia grew in grace and beauty and soon caught the attention of
the gods Apollo and Poseidon who both sought her hand in marriage.
But Hestia wasn't having any of it . . . saying that Aphrodite's ways
(romance and marriage) were not her ways, she placed her hand on Zeus' brow and
swore an oath that she would not marry.
More than anything else, she wanted to follow a path that was true to her
nature and was of her own choosing.
She didn't require the trappings of power or adventure (like Athena and
Artemis, the other virgin, i.e. unmarried, goddesses). She was perfectly content
and fulfilled, being "Aunt Hestia", and enjoyed being of service to her family
and community.
Zeus, grateful that Hestia’s announcement had averted the possibility of war
between the rival suitors, not only supported Hestia’s wish to remain single but
decreed that Hestia’s name should be mentioned first in any prayer and that she
should receive the first portion of any sacrifice and be honored in the temples
of each of the Olympian deities.
So delighted was he with Hestia's decision, that Zeus handed her the keys to
the family home (Mount Olympus) and offered her the position of manager, and
with it the responsibility of running this vast estate while the rest of the
gods and goddesses wandered about in the larger world having all sorts of
adventures.
True to her nature, Hestia stayed at home, never leaving Mount Olympus,
always there to welcome the others and enjoy their “homecomings”.
The goddess Hestia never involved herself in the fights and machinations of
the other gods and goddesses, somehow managing to stay above the fray.
Non-judgmental and forgiving, her “unconditional love” and calm acceptance
inspired the love and trust of others in return. Dependable and caring, Hestia
was always there for them and helped them to manage their lives which were
certainly more exciting than her own.
One of Hestia’s most important responsibilities as the estate-manager was as
“Keeper of the Reserves”, seeing to it that all their clothing and equipment was
in good repair and the the pantry always full so there would be ample food and
wine on hand when any of the gods and goddesses returned from their
adventures.
As keeper of the key to all the supplies, Hestia efficiently managed the
large household, pleasing all with her practical dependability.
One of the few myths of Hestia tells how the lustful Priapus attempted to
rape her as she slept.
As he approached her bed, a donkey (long since a symbol of lust) began to
bray loudly, awakening the slumbering Hestia. Her screams awoke all the other
gods and goddesses and sent the embarrassed Priapus falling all over himself as
he tried to flee.
Hestia is also known as the originator of the concept of
“sanctuary”. It was an offense to Hestia to refuse hospitality to a stranger.
That those in need were to be sheltered and protected from ill-treatment was
recognized by Hestia’s followers as a sacred obligation.
Special emphasis was placed on the requirement to not “take advantage” of a
female guest, presumably as a result of Hestia’s experience with Priapus.
Hestia is often spoken of in conjunction with her friend and neighbor
Hermes, the god of communication and travel. They were polar opposites in terms
of personality—Hestia spoke little and stayed at home, while the outgoing Hermes
had the “gift of gab” and traveled to the far ends of the world.
Though a marriage of such disparate characters clearly could not have
succeeded, they shared strong bonds of friendship. They are remembered together
in the Homeric Hymns (edited by H.G. Evelyn-White):
”…be favorable and help us you [Hermes] and Hestia, worshipful and dear. Come
and dwell in this glorious house of friendship together, for you two, well
knowing the noble actions of men, aid their wisdom and strength.”
The circle symbolized Hestia (and her counterpart, the Roman Goddess Vesta)
as the "complete" goddess, the goddess who was whole, "one complete within
herself". Hestia was seen as, not only psychologically "centered", but also as
representing the center, the center of the home and family, the city, and even
the world itself.
The source of Hestia’s sacred fire was believed to be the molten lava that
burns at the center of the earth, connected by an “umbilical cord” called the
Oomphalos to the city of Delphi, a place of great wisdom and spiritual
energy.
The town hall, a meeting place for citizens to discuss the community's
affairs (a forerunner of western democracy), was built around a hearth that
honored Hestia.
The living flame of Hestia was tended constantly and never allowed to die
out, for it represented the energy of all life and to let the flame extinguish
was to invite a cold and barren existence. When new “subdivisions” were
developed, fire was carried from the town’s hearth to light the fire of the new
community, assuring its prosperity.
The Olympic Torch is just one example of the living flame that has survived
to modern times, though it is seldom recalled that it originally honored the
Greek goddess Hestia.
The ritual of a bride and groom lighting a candle together from the flames of
two candelabra to symbolize the creation of the “new” family from their two
“old” families derived from the ancient practice of bringing Hestia’s flame from
the bride’s mother’s home in order to assure Hestia’s blessing on the union.
Every home had a hearth that was dedicated to the goddess, and each day began
and ended with a ritual requesting that she protect and nurture the family
within.
As the Goddess of Architecture, Hestia intended that homes should be built
from the center out, with the center being a hearth that contained her sacred
flame.
As part of the naming ritual, all infants were carried in a circle around the
altar of Hestia to secure her blessings. There was an altar to Hestia in the
center of every home . . . it was the fireplace, the hearth, where the family
gathered.
Hestia's vision of a house was that it should truly be a home, a place where
one's body, spirit, and relationships would be nurtured and replenished. . . a
place to "come home to" after exposure to the cold and chaos of the external
world.
Hestia is associated with the warmth and comfort of the welcoming fireplace.
Just as the flames glowing from the hearth soothe us with their warmth and
glowing light, the goddess Hestia gives us security, peace, and comfort and
helps us accept the truth of our lives with inner grace.
Hestia, Greek Goddess
of Hearth and Home
Hestia, Greek Goddess of the sacred fire, was once known as "Chief of the
Goddesses" and "Hestia, First and Last". She was the most influential and widely
revered of the Greek goddesses.
Though the goddess Hestia was once the most important of the Greek goddesses,
she (like her counterpart, the Roman goddess Vesta) is virtually unknown today.
Her name means “the essence”, the true nature of things.
Scholars often refer to the goddess Hestia as "the forgotten goddess".
Because of the her association with hospitality, the word Hestia can mostly be
heard today used in the names of inns and restaurants, making some people wonder
if “Hestia” is the name of a franchise.
Unlike the other Greek goddesses, Hestia does not have a "story" . . .
there were few adventures to record about her. She simply "is".
Few images of the goddess Hestia exist. A very "private person", her symbols,
the sacred flame and the circle, are usually used to represent Hestia in works
of art.
Hestia's brief stories, retold here, are too scanty to instruct us. It is her
traits, not her actions, that most define her. These virtues define the goddess
Hestia: mild, gentle, forgiving, peaceful, serene, dignified, calm, secure,
stable, welcoming, and, above all else, well-centered.
Of all the Olympian gods and goddesses, Hestia was the first born. And also
the last. This takes some explaining . . .
Her parents were the Titans, Cronus & Rhea. She was their first child.
But Cronus, made fearful by a prophecy that one of his children would grow up to
usurp his throne, quickly swallowed the infant Hestia (as he did the brothers
and sisters that followed) in order to prevent the fulfillment of the
prophecy.
Later, following the birth of Zeus, the grieving goddess Rhea tricked her
husband into swallowing a rock wrapped in swaddling instead of the infant,
causing him to vomit up all the babies he had swallowed. First in, Hestia was
the last to be disgorged.
Hence, the goddess was often called "Hestia, First and Last".
The goddess Hestia grew in grace and beauty and soon caught the attention of
the gods Apollo and Poseidon who both sought her hand in marriage.
But Hestia wasn't having any of it . . . saying that Aphrodite's ways
(romance and marriage) were not her ways, she placed her hand on Zeus' brow and
swore an oath that she would not marry.
More than anything else, she wanted to follow a path that was true to her
nature and was of her own choosing.
She didn't require the trappings of power or adventure (like Athena and
Artemis, the other virgin, i.e. unmarried, goddesses). She was perfectly content
and fulfilled, being "Aunt Hestia", and enjoyed being of service to her family
and community.
Zeus, grateful that Hestia’s announcement had averted the possibility of war
between the rival suitors, not only supported Hestia’s wish to remain single but
decreed that Hestia’s name should be mentioned first in any prayer and that she
should receive the first portion of any sacrifice and be honored in the temples
of each of the Olympian deities.
So delighted was he with Hestia's decision, that Zeus handed her the keys to
the family home (Mount Olympus) and offered her the position of manager, and
with it the responsibility of running this vast estate while the rest of the
gods and goddesses wandered about in the larger world having all sorts of
adventures.
True to her nature, Hestia stayed at home, never leaving Mount Olympus,
always there to welcome the others and enjoy their “homecomings”.
The goddess Hestia never involved herself in the fights and machinations of
the other gods and goddesses, somehow managing to stay above the fray.
Non-judgmental and forgiving, her “unconditional love” and calm acceptance
inspired the love and trust of others in return. Dependable and caring, Hestia
was always there for them and helped them to manage their lives which were
certainly more exciting than her own.
One of Hestia’s most important responsibilities as the estate-manager was as
“Keeper of the Reserves”, seeing to it that all their clothing and equipment was
in good repair and the the pantry always full so there would be ample food and
wine on hand when any of the gods and goddesses returned from their
adventures.
As keeper of the key to all the supplies, Hestia efficiently managed the
large household, pleasing all with her practical dependability.
One of the few myths of Hestia tells how the lustful Priapus attempted to
rape her as she slept.
As he approached her bed, a donkey (long since a symbol of lust) began to
bray loudly, awakening the slumbering Hestia. Her screams awoke all the other
gods and goddesses and sent the embarrassed Priapus falling all over himself as
he tried to flee.
Hestia is also known as the originator of the concept of
“sanctuary”. It was an offense to Hestia to refuse hospitality to a stranger.
That those in need were to be sheltered and protected from ill-treatment was
recognized by Hestia’s followers as a sacred obligation.
Special emphasis was placed on the requirement to not “take advantage” of a
female guest, presumably as a result of Hestia’s experience with Priapus.
Hestia is often spoken of in conjunction with her friend and neighbor
Hermes, the god of communication and travel. They were polar opposites in terms
of personality—Hestia spoke little and stayed at home, while the outgoing Hermes
had the “gift of gab” and traveled to the far ends of the world.
Though a marriage of such disparate characters clearly could not have
succeeded, they shared strong bonds of friendship. They are remembered together
in the Homeric Hymns (edited by H.G. Evelyn-White):
”…be favorable and help us you [Hermes] and Hestia, worshipful and dear. Come
and dwell in this glorious house of friendship together, for you two, well
knowing the noble actions of men, aid their wisdom and strength.”
The circle symbolized Hestia (and her counterpart, the Roman Goddess Vesta)
as the "complete" goddess, the goddess who was whole, "one complete within
herself". Hestia was seen as, not only psychologically "centered", but also as
representing the center, the center of the home and family, the city, and even
the world itself.
The source of Hestia’s sacred fire was believed to be the molten lava that
burns at the center of the earth, connected by an “umbilical cord” called the
Oomphalos to the city of Delphi, a place of great wisdom and spiritual
energy.
The town hall, a meeting place for citizens to discuss the community's
affairs (a forerunner of western democracy), was built around a hearth that
honored Hestia.
The living flame of Hestia was tended constantly and never allowed to die
out, for it represented the energy of all life and to let the flame extinguish
was to invite a cold and barren existence. When new “subdivisions” were
developed, fire was carried from the town’s hearth to light the fire of the new
community, assuring its prosperity.
The Olympic Torch is just one example of the living flame that has survived
to modern times, though it is seldom recalled that it originally honored the
Greek goddess Hestia.
The ritual of a bride and groom lighting a candle together from the flames of
two candelabra to symbolize the creation of the “new” family from their two
“old” families derived from the ancient practice of bringing Hestia’s flame from
the bride’s mother’s home in order to assure Hestia’s blessing on the union.
Every home had a hearth that was dedicated to the goddess, and each day began
and ended with a ritual requesting that she protect and nurture the family
within.
As the Goddess of Architecture, Hestia intended that homes should be built
from the center out, with the center being a hearth that contained her sacred
flame.
As part of the naming ritual, all infants were carried in a circle around the
altar of Hestia to secure her blessings. There was an altar to Hestia in the
center of every home . . . it was the fireplace, the hearth, where the family
gathered.
Hestia's vision of a house was that it should truly be a home, a place where
one's body, spirit, and relationships would be nurtured and replenished. . . a
place to "come home to" after exposure to the cold and chaos of the external
world.
Hestia is associated with the warmth and comfort of the welcoming fireplace.
Just as the flames glowing from the hearth soothe us with their warmth and
glowing light, the goddess Hestia gives us security, peace, and comfort and
helps us accept the truth of our lives with inner grace.