Hestia

IN ANCIENT GREECE," HESTIA" WAS THE GODDESS OF THE HEARTH. HER NAME MEANS SHE WAS THE FIRSTBORN DAUGHTER OF "CRONOS" AND "RHEA", AND, ACCORDING TO SOME ACCOUNTS, WAS ONE OF THE 12 GREAT OLYMPIANS. "HESTIA" RULES OVER THE HEARTH AND HOME. AS GUARDIAN OF THE DOMESTIC HEARTH SHE WAS HIGHLY REVERED IN GREECE AND WAS PREEMINENT IN THEIR PANTHEON. "HESTIA "WAS THE KINDEST, MOST GENTLE AND VIRTUOUS, AND MOST CHARITABLE OF ALL THE OLYMPIAN GODS AND GODDESSES.

AS GODDESS OF THE HEARTH AND FIRE SHE HAD FEWER TEMPLES THAN ANY OF THE OTHER GODS OF MOUNT OLYMPUS, BUT SHE WAS WORSHIPED THE MOST OF ALL. THIS WAS BECAUSE SHE WAS THE HEARTH GODDESS; THAT IS, THE GODDESS OF THE FIRESIDE AND, THUS, HAD PART IN ALL THE WORSHIP OF THE GREEK HOME. THE GREEKS SAID THAT IT WAS "HESTIA" WHO FIRST TAUGHT MEN HOW TO BUILD HOUSES.

SHE WAS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING EVERY HOUSEHOLD AND HEARTH ON EARTH, AND WHENEVER THERE WAS ANY CHANGE MADE IN THE FAMILY THEY OFFERED SACRIFICES TO "HESTIA". IF A BABY WAS BORN, OR IF THERE WAS A WEDDING, OR IF ONE OF THE FAMILY DIED, THEY MUST SACRIFICE TO "HESTIA." ALSO WHENEVER ANY ONE SET OUT ON A JOURNEY, OR RETURNED HOME FROM ONE, AND EVEN WHEN A NEW SLAVE WAS BROUGHT INTO THE FAMILY, HESTIAMUST BE WORSHIPED, OR ELSE THEY WERE AFRAID SOME EVIL WOULD COME UPON THEIR HOME

PRAYERS WERE OFFERED DAILY IN THE HOME, TO THE HEARTH GODDESS "HESTIA" AND OTHER FAMILY DIVINITIES.

Credit: goddesses-and-gods.blogspot.com