| Hestia | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Other Names |
Hestia, Vesta |
|
First Appearance |
Greek Myth |
|
Created by |
Greek Myth |
Origin[]
In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Hestia is the virgin goddess of the hearth and the home. In myth, she is the firstborn child of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, and sister to Demeter, Hades, Hera, Poseidon, and Zeus. She is also one of the Twelve Olympians like her siblings. The goddess Vesta is her Roman equivalent.
According to ancient Greek tradition, Hestia, along with four of her five siblings, was devoured by her own father Cronus as an infant due to his fear of being overthrown by one of his offspring, and was only freed when her youngest brother Zeus forced their father to disgorge the children he had eaten. Cronus and the rest of the Titans were cast down, and Hestia then became one of the Olympian gods, the new rulers of the cosmos, alongside her brothers and sisters. After the establishment of the new order and in spite of her status, Hestia withdraws from prominence in mythology, with few and sparse appearances in tales.
The gods Poseidon and Apollo (her brother and nephew respectively) both fell in love with Hestia and vied for her hand in marriage. But Hestia would have neither of them, and went to Zeus instead, and swore a great oath, that she would remain a virgin for all time and never marry instead forever tending to the hearth of Olympus (becoming the first Vestal Virgin). Athena and Artemis would like their aunt also elected never to marry and remain an eternal virgin goddesses instead. In the Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite, Aphrodite is described as having "no power" over Hestia.
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
All published appearances of Hestia from before January 1, 1929 are public domain in the US.
Some notable appearances are listed below:
- Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite
- Gigantomachy
- Theogony
- Illiad
Public Domain Comic Appearances[]
- Humdinger vol. 1 #4 - Mr. Hermit tells Mickey who the twelve Olympians were including Hestia who is called by her Roman name Vesta in the story.