Biography of hestia

Wikipedia — Hestia. Wikipedia — Titanomachy. Categorized in: Greek Mythology. Share this Greek Mythology Article:. Battle of Chaeronea and the Rise of Macedon Mar 06th, So committed was the goddess of the hearth to her virginity, in fact, that she once rejected two of the most eligible suitors in the cosmos, Poseidon and Apollo, when they came to ask for her hand in marriage:.

The most modest, tranquil, and industrious of the gods, Hestia rarely appeared in the ribald and raucous stories typical of Greek mythology. Instead, she dutifully observed her role in the domestic sphere. Some scholars doubt whether Hestia even belonged to the official pantheon of the Twelve Olympians, as she and Dionysus often exchanged the honor of filling the twelfth slot.

On the east frieze of the Parthenon, a huge temple of Athena on the Athenian Acropolis, Dionysus is depicted among the Olympians, while Hestia is nowhere to be found.

Biography of hestia

On the other hand, the altar of the Twelve Olympians—also, incidentally, in the city of Athens—included Hestia but not Dionysus. It should be noted, however, that no such myth existed in antiquity as far as we can tell —it is a modern fiction posing as an ancient one. It remains unclear how the ancients coped with the rival claims of two different gods for the title of twelfth Olympian.

Classical Greece was a deeply patriarchal society, where only men enjoyed the benefits of public life in the polis. Women, in contrast, were deprived of these rights and privileges and instead confined to the domestic sphere. Dutiful, obedient, and inconspicuous, Hestia embodied the Greek ideals of motherhood and womanhood. Though rarely remembered today, the cult of Hestia thrived in its time.

Hestia was the first to be addressed in every prayer and received the first share of every sacrifice. In the public sphere, Hestia was honored in community buildings such as the prytaneum. Every Greek city had a prytaneum , which housed the community hearth of Hestia and her cult statue. The structure was used for sacrifices to the goddess but also for various official functions, such as housing guests and ambassadors.

Because every hearth was effectively a sanctuary of Hestia, there were few separate temples dedicated to her in the Greek world. One exception was the city of Hermione, which did have a temple of Hestia; however, it was unusual in that it contained no cult image or statue of her. The Romans also observed this practice in connection with their goddess Vesta.

Orphic Hymn 84 to Hestia trans. Taylor Greek hymns C3rd B. Daughter of Kronos Cronus , venerable dame, who dwellest amidst great fire's eternal flame; in sacred rites these ministers are thine, mystics much blessed, holy and divine. In thee the Gods have fixed their dwelling place, strong, stable basis of the mortal race. Eternal, much formed, ever florid queen, laughing and blessed, and of lovely mien; accept these rites, accord each just desire, and gentle health and needful good inspire.

Hestia was the goddess of hearth and home. As the goddess of the hearth-fire, Hestia also presided over the altar flame and the sacrificial feast. The central hearth of a state also belonged to her--the fire kept alight in the civic hall. Homeric Hymn 24 to Hestia : "Hestia, in the high dwellings of all, both deathless gods and men who walk on earth, you have gained an everlasting abode and highest honour: glorious is your portion and your right.

Hestia, you who tend the holy house [temple] of the lord Apollon. Pindar, Nemean Ode Conway Greek lyric C5th B. Bacchylides, Fragment trans. Campbell, Vol. Plato, Cratylus d - b trans. Fowler Greek philosopher C4th B. The first men who gave names [to the gods] were no ordinary persons, but high thinkers and great talkers. Shall we, then, begin with Hestia, according to custom?

Then what would you say the man had in mind who gave Hestia her name? And besides, if you consider it in connection with sacrifices, you would come to the conclusion that those who established them understood the name in that way; for those who called the essence of things essia would naturally sacrifice to Hestia first of all the gods. Plato, Laws b trans.

Bury : "[Plato describes the founding of his ideal city :] He must divide off twelve portions of land,--when he has first set apart a sacred glebe for Hestia, Zeus and Athena, to which he shall give the name akropolis and circle it round with a ring-wall; starting from this he must divide up both the city itself and all the country into the twelve portions.

Zeus receives central place as king of the goddess, Athena as city-protector, and Hestia as goddess of the civic hearth. Plato, Phaedrus trans. Jowett : "Zeus, the mighty lord, holding the reins of a winged chariot, leads the way in heaven, ordering all and taking care of all; and there follows him the array of gods and demigods, marshalled in eleven bands; Hestia alone abides at home in the house of heaven; of the rest they who are reckoned among the princely twelve march in their appointed order.

Of these, they say, Hestia discovered how to build houses, and because of this benefaction of hers practically all men have established her shrine in every home, according her honours and sacrifices. Cicero, De Natura Deorum 2. Rackham Roman rhetorician C1st B. Her power extends over altars and hearths, and therefore all prayers and all sacrifices end with this goddess, because she is the guardian of the innermost things.

Suidas s. Ges agalma trans. Hestia had few significant temples or shrines dedicated to her. Rather she presided over the hearth at the centre of each home, the altars of all the gods, and the public earth of the city. Closely related to this function are the Penates or household gods [of the Romans]. Translated by Alan Griffiths. Cambridge University Press.

Larousse Desk Reference Encyclopedia , p. In Fisher, W. The Cambridge History of Iran. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Joy Retrieved Jan 1, Retrieved January 1, Arion: A Journal of Humanities and the Classics. JSTOR Documents of Dying Paganism. University of California Press. References [ edit ]. External links [ edit ]. Greek deities series.

Primordial deities Titan deities Water deities Chthonic deities. Twelve Olympians. Category Ancient Greece portal. Ancient Greek religion and mythology. Religion and religious practice. Oedipodea Thebaid Epigoni Alcmeonis. Atheism Henotheism Monotheism Polytheism. Discordianism Feraferia Gaianism Hellenism. Agon Panathenaic Games Rhieia.

Island of Achilles Delos Islands of Diomedes. Castalian Spring Hippocrene Pierian Spring. Myths and mythology. Hecate Hesperus Phosphorus. Aphrodite Aphroditus Philotes Peitho. Charon Hermes Hermanubis Thanatos. Empusa Epiales Hypnos Pasithea Oneiroi. Angelia Arke Hermes Iris. Apate Hermes Momus. Argonauts Calydonian hunters Epigoni Seven against Thebes.

Acherusia Avernus Lake Lerna Lake. Charonium at Aornum Charonium at Acharaca. Necromanteion of Acheron. Aeacus Minos Rhadamanthus. Campe Cerberus. Bident Cap of invisibility Charon's obol. Ascalaphus Ceuthonymus Eurynomos Menoetius. Classical mythology in western art and literature Classicism Classics Greek mythology in popular culture Modern understanding of Greek mythology.