Hestia
deity figure · 11 works · 13 mentions · 13 anchored passages
Daughter of Cronos · ancestral Hestia · essia · goddess of the senate · osia · ousia · pure maiden Hestia
in the texts
Cratylus
Goddess of the hearth, proposed by Socrates as the proper starting point for etymologizing the names of the gods.
Shall we, then, begin with Hestia, according to custom?
Then what would you say the man had in mind who gave Hestia her name?
Hermogenes. That is the proper thing.
Cyropaedia
Ancestral deity to whom Cyrus prays before departing.
Now, when Cyrus had gone home and prayed to ancestral Hestia, ancestral Zeus, and the rest of the gods, he set out upon his expedition;
But now, seeing that you do not hold your power by this method alone but are in a position in still other ways to win the hearts of those whom it is of advantage for you to win, it is meet that you should now have a home. Else what enjoyment would you have of your power, if you alone were to have no hearth and home of your own? For there is no spot on earth more sacred, more sweet, or more dear th …
On the Embassy
The goddess of the hearth, worshipped as guardian deity of the Athenian senate, invoked by Demosthenes in his oath praising the ambassadors.
On our return, then, after we had rendered to the senate a brief report of our mission and had delivered the letter from Philip, Demosthenes praised us to his colleagues in the senate, and he swore by Hestia, goddess of the senate, that he congratulated the city on having sent such men on the embassy, men who in honesty and eloquence were worthy of the state.
Birds
The goddess of the hearth, invoked first in the Priest's litany as 'the Hestia of the birds' presiding over the new city's hearth.
Pray to the Hestia of the birds, to the kite, who presides over the hearth, and to all the god and goddess-birds who dwell in Olympus.
Orations
Goddess of the hearth symbolized by the fixed, unmoving fourth horse of Zeus's chariot.
And the fourth is, to liken it, the most absurd of all, firm and immovable, so far from being winged, named after Hestia.
The Histories
The goddess named by Idanthyrsus as queen of the Scythians.
as to masters, I acknowledge Zeus my forefather and Hestia queen of the Scythians only.
Theogony
Firstborn child of Cronos and Rhea, swallowed by her father at birth.
But Rhea was subject in love to Cronos and bore splendid children, Hestia, Demeter, and gold-shod Hera and strong Hades, pitiless in heart, who dwells under the earth, and the loud-crashing Earth-Shaker, and wise Zeus, father of gods and men, by whose thunder the wide earth is shaken.
Hymn 29 to Hestia
Deity honored in the dwellings of gods and mortals, associated with offerings at banquets and invited to dwell in the house.
Come and dwell in this glorious house in friendship together;
Hail, Daughter of Cronos, and you also, Hermes, bearer of the golden rod!
For without you mortals hold no banquet, — where one does not duly pour sweet wine in offering to Hestia both first and last.
Hymn 5 to Aphrodite
Hestia is the maiden goddess who rejects marriage, swears to remain unmarried, and receives central household and temple honors.
Nor yet does the pure maiden Hestia love Aphrodite's works.
So Zeus the Father gave her an high honor instead of marriage, and she has her place in the midst of the house and has the richest portion.
Nemean
Goddess of the hearth, daughter of Rhea and sister of Zeus and Hera, invoked to welcome Aristagoras and honored with continual sacrifice.
Lyres and songs peal among them, and Themis, who belongs to Zeus the god of hospitality, is honored with everlasting feasts.
Daughter of Rhea, you who have received the town hall under your protection, Hestia, sister of Zeus the highest and of Hera who shares his throne, welcome Aristagoras to your dwelling, and welcome to a place near your splendid scepter his companions, who, in honoring you, guard Tenedos and keep her on a straight course;
Phaedrus
Goddess of the hearth who alone remains in the house of the gods during the heavenly procession.
Hestia alone remains in the house of the gods.