Hestia, goddess of the hearth, is the least anthropomorphized of any of the major deities of her pantheon, despite her central place in Greek religion. Her interest is primarily in the home. *

Myth

Hestia has very little mythology in comparison with her sibling gods. One of the Olympians, she was first born of Rhea and first swallowed by her father Kronos; she was also last to be re-born when Zeus caused Kronos to disgorge all of his brothers and sisters.

It is also well-known that Hestia is one of three virgin goddesses (along with Artemis and Athena) who are immune to Aphrodite's powers. Although eagerly sought after by Poseidon and Apollo, she asked Zeus if she might remain a virgin and occupy the hearth of the home, and this he granted.

Worship

Hestia's worship took place primarily in the home rather than in larger cultic practice. Her name, in Greek, means "hearth," and in many ways she is identified with that center of every home. Libations were made at the hearth, as were the small offerings of food made to her at each meal or family sacrifice.

References

• Burkert, Walter. Greek Religion. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1985.
• Gantz, Timothy. Early Greek Myth, Volume 1. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1993.
• Kerenyi, Karl. The Gods of the Greeks. Thames and Hudson, London, 1951.
• Nilsson, Martin P. Greek Folk Religion. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, 1940.