by Larik Sonfar

Created on: May 18, 2008

To most, mythology is a collection of anecdotes concerning great warriors and kings who slaughter their way through enemies to bring about victory to their cause. The measure of blood spilt serves for them the second function of acting as a criterion for determining those worthy of epic documentation. This common misperception is a veil of ignorance that blinds the literary world. It can be found through a closer examination of human values that whether it be throughout history or in the modern world, the qualities that stand out most are those of harmony, not conflict. There have been countless military leaders who have left an unfading scar on humanity, but it is those who revolutionize the world through peace who leave a timelessly heroic mark in the hearts of mankind. Hestia, the goddess of the heart, is one such character whose eternal love of compassion are and will forever be valued for their significance to man.

The Greek poet Hesoid was the first to put the goddess of Hestia down on paper (Carter). She entered the realm of Greek mythology as the eldest daughter of Cronus and his sister, Rhea (Carter). To the Romans, she was known as Vesta (Tripp). While Hestia, or Vesta, has few stories written about her, the few tales in existence offer definitive insight into her august nature.

After birth, Hestia, like her siblings, was ingested by her father to prevent potential cosmic usurpation. Cronus's effort was ultimately futile, however, as the escaped Zeus liberated his brothers and sisters. Under his command, Hestia and her siblings overthrew the tyrannical Cronus and established a new order of divine rule. Being a key revolutionary, Hestia was given one of the original twelve Olympian seats of godly power. These twelve seats were the ultimate symbols of power and prestige and as such, the gods and goddesses who sat upon them were the center of mythological life. They were the envy of gods and goddesses everywhere. Dionysus, a major divinity, rose up and demanded vehemently that she be given a seat. Rather than warring against Dionysus or even allowing the conflict to prolong, Hestia willingly ceded her royal seat. She chose instead to spend her days tending to the sacred fire on Mt. Olympus and aiding the lives of hardworking mortals ("Hestia").

Hestia's traits of peace and compassion, as demonstrated by this story, are the dominant traits that make her stand out in the plethora of classical mythological figures. Instead of taking a stance of stubbornness

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