Hestia

= Background =

 Hestia is the oldest child of Cronus and Rhea. She is the sister of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, and Hera. She is the virgin Goddess, often referred to as the Goddess of the Hearth. Among all the titans, she is the mildest, most upright, and most charitable. Thus, she does not leave Olympia. She does not take part in any struggles of man and god. She is often seen wearing a cloak or a veil Hestia also symbolized the alliance of the metropolis.

=Events=

Hestia is described as the oldest and youngest child of Cronus and Rhea. She was the first to be swallowed by Cronus and the last to be disgorged, after Zeus forced the old titan to do so. Thus she was known to be the oldest and youngest child.

Poseidon and Apollo both sought for her hand in marriage, however, she refused and decided to live a chaste life. After touching Zeus's head, she swore and oath never to marry for the rest of her life.



Emblems
Hestia did not choose any particular emblem for herself. She did not trouble over the matter. However, in most cases she is depicted in pictures where she is near a hearth (fireplace). It is said that she controls the charcoal hearth in the middle of the Council Hall. Other animals she is often related with are the pig, donkey, and crane.

Synopsis
There are not much stories on Hestia. She was said to never leave her home. For her whole life she remained a virgin. She remains the protector of all private households and city halls. Nobody should be turned away, lest they offend Hestia.

Video
media type="youtube" key="MBN-2UvDOgU" height="385" width="480" align="center"

Words derived from her name:

**Vestal** (//Vesta//) - Chaste. From the Roman virgin goddess Vesta, Hestia's counterpart, who was the goddess of home, hearth, and family.

[|http://www.pantheon.org/articles/h/hestia.html] [] [|http://www.greekmythology.com/Olympians/Hestia/hestia.html] [|http://alex.edfac.usyd.edu.au/BLP/websites/ROBMATULEWICZ/gods.html] [|http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/Hestia.html] [|http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBN-2UvDOgU http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hestia]