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HESTIA GODDESS> ΕΣΤΙΗ

GENERAL INFO

I) What was Hestia the goddess of?

II) What were her symbols, attributes,
sacred plants and animals?

III) Who were the family & attendants of Hestia?

IV) Where and how was she worshipped?

V) What were some of the popular myths about Hestia?

PICTURES

I) Depictions of Hestia in Greek Vase Painting

These images of Hestia come from Ancient Greek Vases, painted approximately 2,500 years ago. NB Click on thumbnails to view full-size images.

II) Other Classical Depictions of Hestia

Hestia was also depicted in classical statues, stone reliefs, frescoes and coins.

SELECTED MYTHS (short versions)

I) The Birth & Devouring of Hestia

"He [Kronos] married his sister Rhea. Because both Ge (Earth) and Ouranos (Sky) had given him prophetic warning that his rule would be overthrown by a son of his own, he took to swallowing his children at birth. He swallowed his first-born daughter Hestia, then Demeter and Hera, and Poseidon and Haides.
When Zeus was grown, he engaged Okeanosí daughter Metis as a colleague. She gave Kronos a drug, by which he was forced to vomit forth first the stone and then the children he had swallowed [Hestia the first-devoured last]. With them Zeus fought a war against Kronos and the Titanes." Source: Apollodorus, The Library 1.4

II) Hestia's Declaration of Virginity

"Nor yet does the pure maiden Histia love Aphrodite's works [ie, love] . She was the first-born child of wily Kronos and youngest too [she was the first devoured and so the last disgorged], by will of Zeus who holds the aigis, - a queenly maid whom both Poseidon and Apollon sought to wed. But she was wholly unwilling, nay, stubbornly refused; and touching the head of father Zeus who holds the aigis, she, that fair goddess, sware a great oath which has in truth been fulfilled, that she would be a maiden all her days. So Zeus the Father gave her a high honour instead of marriage, and she has her place in the midst of the house and has the richest portion. In all the temples of the gods she has a share of honour, and among all mortal men she is chief of the goddesses. Of these three Aphrodite cannot bend or ensnare the hearts." Source: Homeric Hymn 5 to Aphrodite 

III) Hestia & the Lust of Priapos

"Coroneted Cybele [Rhea], with her crow of turrets, invites the eternal gods to her feast. She invites, too, Satyri and Nymphae, Rural-Spirits (Rustica Numina); Silenus is present, uninvited. Itís not allowed and too long to narrate the godsí banquet: night was consumed with much wine. Some blindly stroll shadowy Idaís dells, or lie down and rest their bodies in the soft grass. Others play or are clasped by sleep; or link their arms and thump the green earth in triple quick step. Vesta [Hestia] lies down and takes a quiet, carefree nap, just as she was, her head pillowed by turf. But the red saviour of gardens [Priapos] prowls for Nymphai and goddesses, and wanders back and forth. He spots Vesta. Itís unclear if he thought she was a Nympha or knew it was Vesta. He claims ignorance. He conceives a vile hope and tires to steal upon her, walking on tiptoe, as his heart flutters. By chance old Silenus had left the donkey he came on by a gently burbling stream. The long Hellespontís god was getting started, when it bellowed an untimely bray. The goddess stars up, frightened by the noise. The whole crowd fly to her; the god flees through hostile hands." Source: Ovid, Fasti 6.319

FURTHER INFO (2 detailed pages on Hestia)

PART 1: THE GODDESS HESTIA
Illustrations from Greek Vase Paintings
Quotes - describing in detail her various divine functions
Quotes - general stories about Hestia

PART 2: CULT OF HESTIA
List of Cult Titles
Quotes - cult of the goddess organised by region

PAGE BORDER: Derived from on an ancient Greek vase painting