Hestia is the first born of the Olympians. She discovered how to build houses. Her power extends over altars and hearths and states, and therefore all prayers and sacrifices end with this goddess, because she is the guardian of the innermost things. She never leaves home, Olympus, and she never takes part in the struggles of men or gods.

She was Zeus’ sister, and like Athena and Artemis a virgin goddess. She has no distinct personality and she plays no part in the myths. She was the goddess of the hearth, the symbol of the home, around which the new born child must be carried before it could be received into the family. Every meal began and ended with an offering to her.

Each city too had a public hearth sacred to Hestia, where the fire was never allowed to go out. If a colony was to be founded, the colonists carried with them coals from the hearth of the mother city which to kindle the fire on the new city’s hearth.