Hestia’s Household Hints:
How to Identify a Really Well-performed Sacrifice
"Shall we, then, begin with Hestia, according to custom?" stated Socrates.
Hestia’s Household Hints:
How to Identify a Really Well-performed Sacrifice
"Shall we, then, begin with Hestia, according to custom?" stated Socrates.
In Greek mythology, Hestia was the goddess of the hearth, daughter of Cronus and Rhea, and one of the 12 Olympian deities. When the gods Apollo and Poseidon became suitors for her hand she swore to remain unmarried forever, whereupon Zeus, the king of the gods, granted upon her the honor of presiding over all sacrifices. She was believed to preside at all sacrificial altar fires, and prayers were offered to her before and after meals. In Rome, Hestia was worshipped as Vesta.
She had no throne, but tended the sacred fire in the town hall on the Olympus and every hearth on Earth was her altar. She was the gentlest of all the Olympians. She was worshipped chiefly as goddess of the family hearth; but as the city union was only the family union on a large scale, she had also at least in some states, a public cult the civic hearth in the town hall. Hestia was closely connected with Zeus and Hermes. The two representing domestic life on the one hand, and business and outdoor life on the other. In later philosophy Hestia became the hearth goddess of the universe.
The sacred fires and fire drills of religious rituals and the numerous fire-gods of world mythology must be interpreted as additional evidence of both the antiquity and the importance of fire in human history. Brahman households today are supposed to maintain a sacred fire for the worship of Agni, much as the Greek transported the sacred fire of Hestia during migrations.
The Roman goddess Vesta was once revered as a divine nurturer but now may be better remembered for here minor-planet namesake.
Each June the ancient Roman celebrated the rites of Vesta. Rome recognized a public meaning in Vesta’s blaze and allied the abiding fire in her official hearth with the endurance of the Eternal City. Her dwelling at the Forum was regard as the most ancient talisman of Roman identity.
Reignited on March 1st in a ceremony of renewal, Vesta’s fire was continuously fed by her virgins, the unwed women who resided in their cloister and kept the glowing in her hearth. These Vestal Virgins were recruited as young children from among the headquarters of Rome’s elite.
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