Goddess Hestia

Hestia is the goddess of the hearth in ancient Greece. Her father was Kronos, and Rhea's mother. When Zeus called her to Olympus, two candidates were found on her heart: Poseidon and Apollo. Hestia's decision was categorical, and she said that she would keep her virginity all her life. Given this decision, Zeus made her the goddess of a home and fire. As a gift, he placed it in the center of each house, so that the best victims could bring her. With this goddess were associated all the rituals conducted by man.

What is known about the goddess of Ancient Greece Hestia?

Representing this goddess, the artists certainly took into account her chaste nature . Represented her standing or sitting in a calm pose, while the face expressed absolute seriousness. Hestia was always in full attire - a long tunic was grabbed by a belt. On the head there was a veil, and in her hands she held a lamp, symbolizing eternal fire. In human form, it was rarely represented. So, more often than not it was just a flame. In general, there are not many images and even more statues of Hestia. The symbol of this goddess was a circle, so the foci did just this form. Any feast certainly included a sacrifice in honor of Hestia. It happened at the beginning of the fees and after them. And the victims brought in any temple.

The Greek goddess Hestia, considering her modesty , has always been away from some noisy events, which is why she has no special legends and myths, not only in Greek, but also in Roman mythology, where she corresponded to Vesta. The goddess of the hearth had very few own temples. In general, it was built altars, which were placed in the center of the city, which was a certain protection. There was always fire, symbolizing the goddess of the hearth of Hestia. When people moved from one city to another, they invariably took fire from the altar with them and lit it in a new place.

In Athens was the building of Pritanya, which was public, and also it was considered the temple of the ancient Greek goddess Hestia. The virgins on the altar always supported the eternal fire, and the rulers daily offered sacrifices, for example, wine, fruit, bread, etc. In the Greek city of Delphi there was another temple of Hestia. It was called the religious center of all the inhabitants of ancient Greece. The most important hearth, both for mortals and for gods, was the heavenly fire that was on Olympus.