Hestia’s brief mythology is sketched in three Homeric hymns. She
is described as “that venerable virgin, Hestia,” one of the three that
Aphrodite is unable to subdue, persuade, seduce, or even “awaken
a pleasant yearning in.”^1
Aphrodite caused Poseidon (God of the Sea) and Apollo (God of
the Sun) to fall in love with Hestia. Both wanted her, but Hestia re-
fused them firmly, taking a great oath that she would remain forever
a virgin. Then, as “The Hymn to Aphrodite” explained, “Zeus gave
her a beautiful privilege instead of a wedding gift: he has her sit in
the center of the house to receive the best in offerings. In all temples
of the gods she is honored, and among all mortals she is a venerated
goddess.”^2 The two Homeric hymns to Hestia are invocations, invit-
ing her into the house or temple.
RITUALS AND WORSHIP^3
Unlike the other gods and goddesses, Hestia was not known
through her myths or representations. Instead, Hestia’s significance
is found in rituals, symbolized by fire. In order for a house to become
a home, Hestia’s presence was required. When a couple married,
the bride’s mother lit a torch at her own household fire and carried
it before the newly married couple to their new house to light their
first household fire. This act consecrated the new home.
After a child was born, a second Hestian ritual took place. When
an infant was five days old, it was carried around the hearth to
symbolize its admission into the family. A festive, holy banquet then
followed.
Similarly, each Greek city-state had a common hearth with a sacred
fire in the main hall. Here guests were officially entertained. And
every colony took the sacred fire with them from their home city to
light the fire of the new city.
Thus, whenever a new couple or a new colony ventured out to
establish a new home, Hestia came with them as the sacred fire,
linking old home with new, perhaps symbolizing continuity and
relatedness, shared consciousness and common identity.
Later, in Rome, Hestia was worshipped as the goddess Vesta.
There, Vesta’s sacred fire united all the citizens of
Goddesses in Everywoman