In Greek mythology, Hestia was the goddess of home and hearth, and she represented the ideal of purity in these areas. Possibly for this reason Hestia was an eternal virgin, deliberately remaining aloof from the advances of the male gods. It is important to note, however, that both Poseidon and Apollo sought to court her, but she refused them. Indeed, it is also worth mentioning that in the Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite, Hestia, along with Athena and Artemis, were the only goddesses immune to the passions aroused by the enchanting Aphrodite.
The goddess Hestia was one of the first generation of Olympians. According to the Greek poet Hesiod, she was the daughter of two Titans - Kronos and Rhea - and therefore also the sister of Demeter, Hades, Hera, Poseidon, and Zeus. Hesiod's Theogony features the following information about the birth of Hestia and her siblings (who were collectively to become known as Olympian gods and goddesses):
"Rhea succumbed to Kronos's love and bore him illustrious children,
Hestia and Demeter and Hera, who walks in golden sandals,
imperious Hades, whose heart knows no mercy
in his subterranean dwelling, and the rumbling Earthshaker,
and Zeus the counselor and father of gods and men,
Zeus under whose thunder the wide earth quivers."
(Hesiod, Theogony, 453-458)
Despite her importance in Greek religion, Hestia is not well represented in either mythology or art. Be that as it may, the goddess received her share of honors, including a dedicatory Homeric Hymn.
Homeric Hymn to Hestia
"Hestia, you who tend the sacred dwelling
of the far-shooting lord, Apollo, at holy Pytho,
from your tresses flowing oil ever drips down.
Come to this house! Come in gentle spirit
with resourceful Zeus and grant grace to my song!"
Hestia was called Vesta in Roman mythology.
الأربعاء مايو 04, 2011 2:11 am