Hestia Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Hestia
Goddess of the domestic and civic hearth, the home, sacred and sacrificial fire, virginity, family, and the state
Member of the Twelve Olympians
The Giustiniani Hestia
Abode	Delphi and Mount Olympus
Animals	Pig
Symbol	The hearth and its fire
Personal information
Parents	Cronus and Rhea
Siblings	Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, Zeus, Chiron (half)
Roman equivalent	Vesta

In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Hestia ( Greek: Ἑστία) is the goddess of the hearth. The hearth is the fireplace or central part of a home where a fire burns. Hestia is also the goddess of the home, family, and the state.

She is known as a virgin goddess, meaning she chose never to marry. Hestia was the first child born to the powerful Titans Cronus and Rhea.

According to ancient Greek stories, Cronus was afraid one of his children would take his power. So, he swallowed Hestia and four of her siblings right after they were born. Their youngest brother, Zeus, was saved by Rhea. Later, Zeus grew up and forced Cronus to bring up all the children he had swallowed.

After this, Cronus and the other Titans were defeated. Hestia and her siblings became the new rulers of the cosmos, known as the Twelve Olympians. Even though she was a powerful goddess, Hestia preferred to stay out of big adventures and fights. She chose to remain a virgin and always looked after the sacred fire on Mount Olympus.

Hestia was very important in ancient Greek society, even if she didn't have many dramatic myths. People believed she should receive the first offering at every sacrifice in a home. When new cities were started, a special flame from Hestia's public hearth in the old city would be carried to the new settlement. Her Roman equivalent, or similar goddess, is Vesta.

What Hestia's Name Means
Hestia's Story
How Hestia Was Worshipped
- Shrines and Temples
Hestia's Family Tree
See also

What Hestia's Name Means

Hestia's name means "hearth," "fireplace," or "altar." This shows that she represents the hearth and its fire. The hearth was a very important symbol of family, community, and even power in ancient Greece.

Hestia's Story

Her Family

Hestia is one of the first generation of Olympian gods. She is the oldest daughter of the Titans Rhea and Cronus. Her siblings are Demeter, Hades, Hera, Poseidon, and Zeus.

As soon as they were born, Cronus swallowed all his children except Zeus. Hestia was the very first one he swallowed. Zeus later made Cronus bring up his siblings. This is why Hestia is sometimes called both the "eldest" and "youngest" daughter.

Zeus gave Hestia the important job of keeping the fires of the Olympian hearth burning. This fire was fed with the best parts of animal offerings given to the gods. Because of this, Hestia received a share of honor wherever food was cooked or offerings were burned. She was considered a chief goddess among all mortals.

The Virgin Goddess

Two powerful gods, Poseidon (her brother) and Apollo (her nephew), both wanted to marry Hestia. But Hestia did not want to marry either of them. She went to Zeus and swore a serious oath that she would remain a virgin forever. Even Aphrodite, the goddess of love, had no power over Hestia.

Her Role and Symbols

Hestia (?) on the northern frieze of the Siphnian Treasury, 6th century BC, Delphi Archaeological Museum, Greece.

Hestia is usually not shown in stories about the gods fighting the Giants. This is because her job was to keep the home fires burning while the other gods were away. However, an old inscription suggests she might have joined the fight.

Hestia is strongly linked to the hearth itself. This is different from the fire used for metalworking, which belonged to the god Hephaestus. Pictures of Hestia are rare. When she is shown, she often wears a simple, modest cloak and a head veil. Sometimes she holds a staff or is near a large fire. She sits on a plain wooden throne with a white woolen cushion. Her special animal was a domestic pig.

Her Roman Equivalent

Fragment of a Hellenistic relief (1st century BC–1st century AD) depicting the twelve Olympians. Hestia with scepter is on the left, from the Walters Art Museum.

Hestia's Roman equivalent is Vesta. Vesta had similar duties as the goddess of Rome's public and private hearths. She helped to connect Romans together like a big family.

How Hestia Was Worshipped

Part of a marble altar with inscription ESTIAS ISTHMIAS, 5th – 4th century BC. The altar was dedicated to Hestia with the epithet Isthmia ("of the isthmus"). Archaeological Museum of Paros.

Worship of Hestia focused on the hearth, both in homes and in public buildings. The hearth was vital for warmth, cooking, and making offerings to the gods. At feasts, Hestia received the first and last offerings of wine.

If a home's hearth fire went out by accident, it was seen as a failure to care for the family and their religion. Sometimes, a hearth fire was put out on purpose for rituals. But lighting it again always involved special ceremonies of cleaning and renewal. This was similar to the idea of an eternal flame.

In Greek city-states, the hearths of new colonies were connected to their "mother cities" through Hestia's worship.

Dedication of an altar to Hestia in Karneades, Taormina (undated). The inscription asks Hestia to grant a good life to those who built the altar.

Usually, the main woman of the house was in charge of Hestia's worship at home. In public buildings, civil leaders led the rites for Hestia.

Shrines and Temples

Every private and public hearth was considered a sacred place for Hestia. A part of all sacrifices, no matter which god they were for, belonged to her.

There were very few temples built just for Hestia. Some ancient writers mention one in Ermioni and one in Sparta. The one in Sparta had an altar but no statue of her. There was also a temple to Hestia in Andros.

When people wanted to start new cities, they sought guidance from their "mother city" and from the god Apollo. Apollo helped them with city planning. Other gods might also support the new settlement. But without Hestia, her sacred hearth, and a public hall, a new city could not truly exist.