Hestia

Hestia is a goddess in Greek mythology associated with the hearth, home, and domestic life. The name derives from the Greek word for the hearth. She is commonly listed among the original Olympian deities, a daughter of Cronus and Rhea, and sister to Demeter, Hades, Poseidon, Hera, and Zeus. Hestia is traditionally described as a virgin goddess who embodies stability, warmth, and hospitality.

In myth, Hestia is a relatively quiet figure who does not play a central role in many stories. Her domain is the household and the throughline of sacred and domestic order rather than heroic exploits. Some traditions hold that she surrendered her seat on Mount Olympus to Dionysus, preferring to remain at the hearth and govern the quiet, enduring rituals of home and sanctuary.

Worship and ritual focused on maintaining the sacred fires connected to both private households and public spaces. In ancient Greece, domestic hearths symbolized family continuity, while civic hearths and temple altars reinforced communal harmony. The Roman equivalent of Hestia is Vesta, whose sacred flame was tended by the Vestal Virgins; the flame represented the city's welfare and continuity and was never allowed to go out.

In art and literature, Hestia is often portrayed as calm and modest, sometimes shown with a presence of flame or a small domestic symbol rather than active mythic adventures. While not a figure of dramatic myth, her influence lies in the sustaining order of family and community life.