Hestia, goddess of hearth and domestic affairs

Hestia (Vesta) was a virgin goddess of hearth, the domestic affairs and home. She was believed to have taught people how to build houses and was associated with the perpetual sacred fire that provided warmth, protection, and stability for those who honored her. In her worship, households established a shrine with a sacred hearth fire dedicated to the goddess, where offerings and sacrifices were made. The flame of Hestia was tended constantly and was never allowed to go out, except when it was ritually extinguished and rekindled to mark a new beginning. The eternal flame represented the life itself, unity and stability of both the household and state.

Most of the time, she is depicted as a modest woman wearing modest, but elegant, clothing and holding a flower branch. She is also depicted holding a sacrificial flame in her hand.

Making her own way of living

Hestia was the first and "the last" daughter of Cronus and Rhea. She was the first-born of the couple, but was also the first eaten by Cronus and the last disgorged when Zeus came to rescue and forced his father into vommiting. Because of it, she was named the eldest and the youngest child of the first Olympians. Hestia grew in grace and beauty and followed the path of her nature. During her time, she was courted in vain by Poseidon and Apollo. Instead, she pledged herself to eternal virginity and her way, with Zeus to be her witness. Unlike Athena or Artemis, who were also bound to virginity, Hestia didn't need quests and was simply fulfilled just to exist and stay at home to serve her family and community. Zeus honored her decision and commanded a share of honor in each house and to receive the greatest portion of the offerings by mortals. She was a pure, non-judgmental and forgiving goddess who preferred the company of fellow virgins and who used to offer strangers that honored her a shelter and protection when needed.

Altar of Hestia in every city

Because she didn't leave her home much, she had no desire to become the patron of any city. Instead, the goddess was honored through the sacred hearth altar which was, apart from households, usually located in the public area of the city, often inside a building called Prytaneion. At the center of this space stood the altar, also called hearth, where a sacrificial flame was kept burning and where people gathered for rituals and offerings as well as for simple communal meals. The hearth-fire had great meaning for the social, political and, above all, religious life of the ancient Greeks. The extinction of fire, even by accident, represented a failure of domestic and religious care for the family. Sometimes, the sacrificial flame was deliberately extinguished in rituals and ceremonies of purification and renewal. But then again it was lit up and represented a new beginning. The center of the sanctuary was also the place, where food was prepared and meals eaten. Part of every meal, even if considered an offering to any god, was thrown into the fire as a ceremonial offering to the goddess. Sometimes a lavish meal on a clean plate was offered, another time sweet wine was poured into the fire, generally it was a good quality food and liquid used for the offering.

Sacred rituals

In Roman times, the sanctuary, also known as a temple of Vesta, was often circular in shape and held the sacred state fire. The sacred rituals were performed by virgin priestesses known as the Vestal Virgins.  It is also said that donkeys, often decorated with garlands of flowers, were present during rituals. The story in Ovid's Fasti goes that once gods had a feast in the vicinity of Mount Ida. Tired of boasting from, Hestia went to lay on the grass where she fell asleep. However, she was followed by Priapus who tried to violate her but was fended off by a donkey’s loud bray which woke up the goddess and sent the rustic god into retreat. From that day donkeys became sacred to the goddess and symbolically connected to the rituals where they were honored but not sarificed.