Hestia

Hestia (Vesta) is easily one of the most motherly goddesses within the Hellenic faith. Let's go back to the beginning of Hestia, back before Zeus and Hades and all the other Gods.


Chronus had just received the prophecy that one of his own children would overthrow him but his wife Rhea was pregnant. Rhea Mother of the Gods was pregnant with the first Olympian baby Hestia. Upon Her birth She was snatched from Her mother and swallowed whole. There Hestia would grow and wait for Zeus to free Her and Her siblings.


After the Titan War and rebirth of the Cosmos Hestia married Zeus. Alas Their marriage wasn't meant to be. Zeus and Hestia split up and Zeus married Hera instead. Hestia swore an oath of celibacy and began tending to the hearth of Olympus.


There are also two other myths that say that Poseidon and Apollo tried to court Hestia but She refused. To stop anymore would be suitors Hestia asked Zeus to allow Her to take an oath of celibacy and tend to the hearth.


So now we'll skip forward to the ascension  of Dionysus. There are only twelve thrones in Olympus meaning that there can only be twelve Olympian reigning there. Dionysus, the son of Zeus and Semele, had braved the Underworld and spread His cult to the world. Finally He was ready to ascend to Olympus but there was just one problem. All the thrones were occupied. Hestia, out of compassion for humanity and a desire to keep the peace, gave up Her throne in Olympus. She journeyed down from that paradise to live among mortals and aid them when She could.


There were no grand temples in Her honor in Greece. Across the sea in Rome there were many great temples to Vesta (Hestia). The famous Vestal Virgins served the Goddess and maintained Her sacred flame in the heart of Rome. Hestia in both Greece and Rome was given the first and last of every offering. She was also honored in every home shrine. Making family meals was seen as a sacred task and a form of worship to the Goddess.


I honor Hestia nightly at my altar. She and the daemons are prayed to first and given the first offerings. I also worship Her in conjunction with Hephaestus (Vulcan) since both are gods of fire and both can be seen as representing the ideal married couple.


Here is a copy of the invocation I use before giving offerings to Hestia.
"Hestia Queen of Man Guardian of the Holy Flames
Hear my prayers this night and accept these humble offerings."


Any Hellene regardless of patronage or slant should show great respect to Hestia. She is the most prominent deity within the home and can withhold Her blessings of prosperity and peace at any time. In my personal experience I find Her to be a very loving, levelheaded goddess. Hestia's compassion is truly boundless.


Gods bless