Hestia Hearth Goddess from "summary" of Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan
Hestia is an ancient Greek Goddess of the home and family. She is often depicted as being a gentle and caring figure, and is said to watch over the hearth of a home, providing protection and warmth for all those that dwell within.- Hestia, the goddess of hearth and home, was highly revered in Ancient Greece. She is considered the most important of all Olympians as she is the deity who presides over domestic life and family.
- Despite being an important deity, she rarely appears in literature and mythology. Therefore, we have less information on her than other major gods and goddesses.
- Hestia had ecstatic devotion from her people. Hindus use the phrase ‘Hestia’s smile’ to refer to an expression of peaceful serenity.
- She symbolizes safety, security, warmth and love. Her domain includes all hearths used to cook food in Ancient Greece homes.
- Roman canonic literature makes hardly any reference to her, though Virgil praises her as goddess and Apollo's protector.
- Statues of Hestia represented her with flames burning on either side of her head. As she is associated with flame and fire, her cult offerings generally involve sacrificial animals with roasted meats.
- Worshippers would often place flower garlands before her altars at festivals and supplicators prayed to her for personal matters such as health or success in business.
- Greek tragedy playwright Aeschylus mentions her in his works. In Homer's “Iliad,” Zeus swore a special oath to her in an attempt to end the war between Achilles and Agamemnon.
