Greek Goddess Hestia

No other figure in Creek mythology has fewer tales of their exploits then the goddess Hestia and it is theorized that this is for good reason. That reason being is that it is felt that unlike most other Greek mythological figures that existed surrounded by drama and conflict Hestia was given to a tranquil tolerant temperament and was a pacifist by nature.

Hestia was the goddess that ruled over the hearth and central fire of every Greek household and governed the harmony and well being of Greek Homes as well. During times of celebration and sacrifice in a Greek household Hestia was always the first deity to be recognized and paid tribute.

Hestia is recognized as one of the three original goddesses of the first Olympian generation which was comprised of sisters Demeter, Hera and Hestia. She was the offspring of the Titans Cronos and Rhea which made Hestia a sister of Zeus, Poseidon and Hades as well.

According to Greek mythology Hestia gave up her seat to the newcomer Dionysus when she sensed that her retaining it might lead to a future conflict over it. Its a short story in Greek mythology that was told to recognize Hestia's personal attribute as a pacifist and a peace keeper. She left her thrown to take on the eternal task of tending the sacred fire on Mount Olympus.

Hestia was a virginal goddess who devoted all of her time and efforts to looking after the homes and families of Greek society and the hearth in a Greek home was felt to be the domain of the goddess Hestia. Because the hearth and fire in the Greek home were considered to be the sacred place where this virginal goddess dwelled the fire in a home was also considered sacred.

It was the same in a Roman household for the same reasons as the Romans worshiped a goddess similar to Hestia by the name of Vesta. The fire in a Greek or Roman home could never be allowed to simply burn out as it was required to be ritually extinguished and failing to do so could court discontentment in the family that shared the fire.

A ritual was also required for igniting the fire in a Greek or Roman home as well that would include the invoking of the goddess. Hestia was not just confined to the homes of the Greek empire as she was also called upon to help to maintain harmony and strengthen alliances between the family of colonies in the provinces and larger more well established Greek cites and towns.