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Hestia: Goddess of Hearth

Hestia
By inacentaurdump

Origin: Greece
Meaning: hearth, fireside, home, the essence
Similar goddess in other countries/religion:

Myth: Hestia is the goddess of the sacred fire. She was once known as "Chief of the Goddesses" and "Hestia, First and Last". Hestia is also known as the originator of the concept of “sanctuary”. It was an offense to Hesta to refuse hospitality to a stranger. That those in need were to be sheltered and protected from ill-treatment was recognized by Hestia’s followers as a sacred obligation. Hestia has never been married, but she protects orphans and missing children and chooses not only to spend her time on Mt. Olympus, but also on Earth with the mortals she loves. She is the most tender, most loving, and most forgiving Goddess. She was once the most influential and widely revered of the Greek goddesses, however in today’s world, Hestia is virtually unknown. There are very few images of the goddess Hestia as she was a very "private person". When the word Hestia is heard today, it is mostly in the names of inns and restaurants, making some people wonder if “Hestia” is the name of a franchise. In later time, Hestia leaves her seat to Dionysus (god of wine, inspirer of ritual madness and ecstasy) to tend to the sacred fire on Mt. Olympus.
Hestia's symbols are the sacred flame and the circle.
Virtues that define the goddess Hestia: mild, gentle, forgiving, peaceful, serene, dignified, calm, secure, stable, welcoming, and, above all else, well-centered.

Why Hestia is called "Hestia, First and Last"
Of all the Olympian gods and goddesses, Hestia was the first born, as well as the last. Although, that may seem impossible but what happened was that Hestia was the first child of the Titans, Cronus and Rhea. But Cronus, made fearful by a prophecy that one of his children would grow up to usurp his throne, quickly swallowed the infant Hestia in order to prevent the fulfillment of the prophecy. Later Cronus vomited up all the babies he had swallowed, Hestia , the first in, was the last to be expelled. Hence, the goddess was often called "Hestia, First and Last".
How Hestia received the name "Chief of the Goddesses"
As time passed, the goddess Hestia grew in grace and beauty, and soon caught the attention of the gods Apollo and Poseidon who both sought her hand in marriage. But Hestia wasn’t interested, saying that Aphrodite's ways (goddess of romance and marriage) were not her ways since she wanted to follow a path that was true to her nature and was of her own choosing. After which, Hestia placed her hand on Zeus' brows and swore an oath that she would not marry. Zeus, grateful that Hestia’s announcement had averted the possibility of war between the rival suitors, not only supported Hestia’s wish to remain single but decreed that Hestia’s name should be mentioned first in any prayer and that she should receive the first portion of any sacrifice and be honored in the temples of each of the Olympian deities. And to finish showing his gratuide, Zeus handed Hestia the keys to the family home (Mount Olympus) and offered her the position of manager, and with it the responsibility of running this vast. True to her nature, Hestia stayed at home, never leaving Mount Olympus, always there to welcome the others and enjoy their “homecomings”.