Hestia
Hestia, the eldest Olympian and virgin goddess, presided over the hearth of Mount Olympus, embodying the importance of the hearth fire for both gods and mortals.
Residence: Mount Olympus
Symbols: Hearth, fire
Parents: Cronus and Rhea
Siblings: Hades, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Chiron and Zeus
Roman equivalent: Vesta
Hestia, presiding over the family hearth, watched not only over the crackling flames but also the preparation of the family meal, ensuring the warmth of the home and the rising of the hearth bread. As the goddess of the sacrificial flame, she received a portion of every offering made to the gods, with the communal feast’s preparation naturally falling under her domain.
The firstborn child of Cronus and Rhea, Hestia was swallowed whole by her father at birth. Zeus later forced the old Titan to bring up Hestia and her siblings. As the first to be swallowed, she was also the last to be disgorged, earning her the unique distinction of being both the eldest and youngest of the six Cronids. When Apollo and Poseidon sought her hand in marriage, Hestia refused and asked Zeus to let her remain an eternal virgin. He agreed, and she took her place at his royal hearth.
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