Hestia (Vesta)
Profile
Everybody had a warm place in their hearts for Hestia, the goddess of hearth and home. Way back in the day, both Poseidon and Apollo tried to marry her. She wasn't into either of them, though, so she begged Zeus to let her be a virgin forever. Zeus gave her the go and tasked her with taking care of the sacred hearth fire of Olympus. It may not sound like a particularly awesome job, but Hestia loved it. Being the goddess of the sacrificial fires was a particularly sweet gig because she got first dibs on every animal that was burnt in offering to the gods. Mmmm, barbecue.
Basic Information
Name Hestia
Nickname Vesta, Hesty
Sex Female
Current city Olympus
Work & Education
Occupation Goddess of the Hearth and Home (basically, I get to hang out by the fireplace all day).
Education Rhea School of Homemaking
Beliefs
Political views Pro-Zeus
Family & Friends (& Enemies)
Parents Kronos (Dad)
Rhea (Mom)Siblings Zeus
Poseidon
Hades
Hera
Demeter
(I know, we're quite a family.)
Children Sorry, I'm a sworn virgin.
Friends Enemies Priapus, the awful little god who tried to have his way with me
Santa Claus (And no, I'm not a Grinch. He's just always desecrating my chimneys with his big fat belly.)Relationships
Relationship status Permanently single
Interested in Nobody. Thanks, though! ;)
Favorites
TV Shows Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood
The Waltons
Little House on the PrairieQuotations "Love is the only bow of life's dark cloud. [...] It is the air and light of every heart, builder of every home, kindler of every fire on every hearth."
– Robert Green Ingersoll
"May we live in peace without weeping. May our joy outline the lives we touch without ceasing. And may our love fill the world, angel wings tenderly beating."
– Irish Blessing
"Take me home country roads
To the place I belong,
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads."
– John Denver
"We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love."
– Mother Teresa
"The world has suffered more from the ravages of ill-advised marriages than from virginity."
– Ambrose BierceBooks Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
"To Build a Fire" by Jack London
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving (I love a good ghost story by the fire.)
Dracula by Bram Stoker (Another spooky tale best read by firelight!)
The Open Hearth Cookbook by Doris Simpson
The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (Their truly is "no place like home.")
"Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost
"To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time (Gather ye rosebuds)" by Robert Herrick (Some of us have all eternity to gather rosebuds…)
"The Cricket on the Hearth" by Charles DickensMusic Home by Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros
Country Roads by John Denver
Salvation Song by The Avett Brothers
Homeward Bound by Simon and Garfunkel
There is a Light That Never Goes Out by The Smiths
Give Peace a Chance by John Lennon and Plastic Ono Band
We Didn't Start the Fire by Billy Joel
Let It Snow performed by Frank SinatraMovies The Wizard of Oz
Julie and Julia
It's a Wonderful Life
Spirited Away
A Christmas Story
Mrs. Doubtfire
Mary Poppins
BraveActivities & Interests
Likes Hearths
Homes
Better Homes and Gardens
Potpourri
Cross-stitching
BarbecuesInterests Home Economics
Hearth-ologyGroups Gods and Goddesses of Olympus
Marshmallow Lovers
Fireplace Fanatics
Pacifists
Sworn VirginsSpotter's Guide
Aw, shucks. You're looking for Hestia? Well, that just makes us feel warm and cozy inside. She sometimes gets overlooked, but being the goddess of the hearth and home and one of the original Olympians makes her a big deal in our eyes. You'll have to head up to Mount Olympus to find her. She spends all day everyday tending the sacred fire at the heart of Olympus. If you can manage to make it up there, you should totally take the time to have a chat with the woman. She's the nicest, most mild-mannered, friendliest lady you'll ever meet. There's no doubt about it, Hestia will warm your heart.
Sex: Female
Age: Middle-aged
Build: A little plump (hey, she doesn't get much exercise)
Complexion: Pale
Hair Color: Brown
Facial Hair: Nope
Scars/marks/tattoos: None
Jewelry and accessories: A kettle, a flowering branch
Clothing: Modest homespun robes, sometimes a veil
Armor: None
Type of Weapon: No needTypical Companions:
She's usually alone by the hearth, but all the gods drop by to say hello once in a while.
Known Hangouts:
The hearth of Olympus—she can't really leave
Sightings
Jan 1, 1970 - Jan 1, 1970
Theogony by Hesiod
Hestia and her siblings get swallowed whole by their daddy, Kronos, in this ancient poem. (Pretty amazing that Hestia came out so well balanced after this; we'd still be in therapy.)
The Library by Apollodorus
Check out another version of Hestia's cannibalistic introduction to the world. And you thought your life was weird.
Jan 1, 1970 - Dec 20, 2019
The Library of History by Didorus Siculus
Not only is Hestia an awesome hearth tender, she's also a dope architect according to this ancient poem.
Dec 20, 2019 - Dec 20, 2019
Fasti by Ovid
Ovid gives you the low down on how Priapus almost took advantage of Hestia (Vesta) in her sleep. Can you say creep?
Dec 20, 1998
Xena: Warrior Princess
Hestia herself shows up when someone tries to harm one of her priestesses in this TV series.
Dec 20, 1999
Hercules
Betty White gives voice to Hestia in this Disneyfied version of the adventures of Hercules.
Dec 20, 2019
The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
In this novel, Hestia appears as an eight-year-old girl to give some advice to Percy Jackson.
Dec 20, 2019
Clash of the Titans
The goddess of the hearth makes a cameo in this Hollywood blockbuster.