by Tim Harry

Created on: November 16, 2008   Last Updated: July 17, 2010

Hestia is arguably the least well known of the Olympians of Greek mythology. The Olympians being the inhabitants of Mount Olympus, and rulers of the cosmos. The names of other gods, the likes of Zeus and Apollo, are still recognised by many today, but the name of Hestia has been all but forgotten today, and most indeed will never even have heard of the Greek goddess.

Hestia was the eldest daughter of Cronus and Rhea, Cronus being the leading Titan, and supreme ruler of the world, although she is also often known as the youngest. Cronus lived in fear of a prophecy that stated that his own offspring would someday overthrow him. To prevent this from happening Cronus swallowed each of his offspring after Rhea had given birth to them. Hestia, Poseidon, Hades, Hera and Demeter, therefore all found themselves prisoners in the stomach of their father. Zeus was the only one of the six siblings to escape this fate, Zeus being smuggled away to Crete to grow in to adulthood.

Once Zeus was strong enough he hatched a plan to rescue his siblings and to lead a revolt against his father. To this end he was helped by Rhea, who provided Cronus with a potion which regurgitated Hestia and the rest of her siblings. Hestia was the last to be regurgitated thus she was the last "born". The revolt that followed turned into the Titanomachy, the war against the rule of the Titans. Although Hestia and her sisters, Hera and Demeter, sided with Zeus there is little told about the role the played in the war. Certainly Hestia did not receive any of the weapons as invented by the Cyclopes so played little in the actual battles that comprised the Titanomachy.

Ultimately of course Zeus and his siblings were victorious over the Titans, and as a result they defeated were in the main imprisoned in Tartarus. Hestia then joined Zeus, Hera, and Demeter on Mount Olympus, Poseidon and Hades taking control of their own domains.

The original six Olympians were then expanded to make up the more traditional twelve Olympians. Even from this early role though, Hestia was hardly the most prominent of deities. Hestia though became the goddess of the hearth and the home.

Hestia's life was serene and she played little role in the adventures of other gods or man. The first major tale about Hestia revolves around the advances of other gods. Poseidon and Apollo were both admirers of Hestia and although they had the help of Aphrodite they were unable to succeed with their advances. Hestia then implored Zeus

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