Goddess of fire and home. Ancient Greek goddess Hestia
The mythology of the Hellenes was built on the perception of themof the whole world as one gigantic patrimonial community. In each story they generalized a variety of human relationships and natural phenomena. The main thing on Olympus was Zeus. He dictated to people a common law and order. And individual deities were responsible for specific areas of life.
Large family
First there was Chaos. He gave birth to Gaia, the goddess of the Earth. And deep inside the bowels of Tartarus. This is a terrible black abyss. Then came all the animating Love, then Day and Night, Light and Darkness. And so on.
To them were added heroes, titans and other deserving respect and veneration of the celestials.
Ancient man felt himself at once in twoparallel worlds. On Earth, he lived, worked and raised children. And on top of him looked at this or that god. He had to be read, asked for help and thanked. Obeying is obligatory, otherwise the patron can be very angry.
So the ancient Greek history, intertwined withmythology, is very interesting. The culture of Greece had a powerful influence on the consciousness and life of the inhabitants of the Roman Empire. And she, in turn, reported her attitudes and traditions to almost every European nation.
The oldest gods are closely related togeneral Indo-European religious beliefs. And so there are parallels in names. So, for example, the Roman goddess Selena and Venus among the Hellenes were, respectively, Aurora and Aphrodite. Hellenic Ares, the patron of the military, was called the Mars by the Romans. The healer Asclepius, respectively, became Aesculapius. Zeus himself is Jupiter. And so on.
They did not do a portrait
In ancient Greece, the young goddess of fire and homea hotbed named Hestia is the eldest daughter of Kronos and Gaia. Her father is the supreme deity (or Titan), the son of the first god of Heaven (Uranus). And the mother is the Earth (Gaia). The famous Zeus is her brother. Hades and Poseidon, too. There are also two sisters in this celibate - Demeter and Hera.
The goddess of fire and home from the Romans, who looks after the order in the houses of people and the safety of family warmth is called Vesta.
But later in the cities still appeared statues,and quite rare. The image of Hestia corresponded to her character. It is purity and chastity, the imprint of the strictest morality. Most often she sat or stood in a calm pose. On his face - nothing frivolous, it is the most serious, severe. Also the girl has always been fully dressed in a long dress.
The circle became its symbol. That is why all the sources of heat in homes have its shape.
Empowerment
It happened (and it's very natural),that the goddess of fire and home became simultaneously the patroness of the community of each city. Only Hestia was dedicated to their main buildings. Inside stood an altar on which an eternal flame burned in honor of her. And if someone from the townspeople left his native country in the colony, then he took a torch from here. He drove him cautiously all the way to light a hearth in his future home, in his new homeland.
War of opinions
Do not think that on Olympus - silence and grace. Oh, there are sometimes violent passions boiling! So, our serious heroine Hestia, the goddess of the home, categorically did not perceive the beauty of Aphrodite, fundamentally disapproved of her behavior. But she, who has an enviable title "Goddess of Love and Beauty", was also responsible for fertility, spring and, in general, for life. Caring it was enough. She was lazy about love and marriage, childbirth. She fed babies. Despite such a large circle of duties, the beauty managed to flirt with the men of Olympus. And her authority was subordinated to everything - and eternal gods, and mere mortals. Whoever wants to - that will send love, like happiness or suffering.
Only in any way she could not affect"Obstinate" and independent of her Athena with Artemis and Hestia. She was generally famous for her ruthlessness toward those who did not recognize love or directly rejected it.
Good compensation
Hestia was a good girl. But she was not going to marry anyone. She rejected even Poseidon, the powerful god of the seas. And the bridegroom he was enviable. When, after defeating the Titans, the gods on Olympus began to divide the world, then he got a lot - the water element. But other local gods also had to do with it. So, for example, Nereus, this good-natured and very fair elder. Here is a beautiful embodiment of a peaceful and calm sea depth. It is this that promises sailors a safe voyage. Also the Ocean is the patron of water. But it washes the land and creates sources for rivers, directs the sea currents. Finally, Proteus is also a marine deity, an efficient shepherd of huge herds of seals. But the brave Poseidon pushed everyone away from the tidbit. That's how Greek gods and goddesses sometimes live ...
Hestia also did not accept the hands of the general favoriteand a true handsome, real blond and patron of the arts of Apollo. She swore to remain a virgin forever. And then Zeus, her brother, granted her the exclusive right. He placed his sister in the center of a large house. There she could be offered the best sacrifices.
Since then, the goddess of fire and home became very revered. With her began to identify all the important rituals - wedding, related to the birth of children and the whole family.
Starting a successful business
The Greeks still have an old saying"To begin with Hestia." What does it mean? Strict and majestic, very responsible, the goddess of fire and the home took the sacrifice before the beginning of any of her rituals. And without a difference - a private matter or a public matter. And with such help, the beginning of the people went well. That's why the people of Greece put down such a story.
To her, this thoroughly strict, exacting and caring girl, Homer dedicated his best hymns.
The ancient Greek goddess Hestia was revered by people at the same high level as Hermes - the god of profit in trade, intelligence, dexterity and still eloquence.
By the way, she was his aunt.And if the hearth of the goddess was inside the dwelling, then the symbol of the god of trade - a pole - was placed in the doorway. The fire of Hestia gave light and warmth to the whole house. And the sign of Hermes did not pass through the threshold of evil and all sorts of troubles, misfortunes, guaranteed wealth to the owner.
So these gods harmoniously complemented each other.
Not subject to influence
When we distinguish in a modern womanthe traits of Hestia, then rest assured: the most ambiguous situations will not have the same negative impact on it as on other people. Neither colleagues, nor relatives or friends have power over it. She remains with her personal opinion always. It can not be bought either with promises of an excellent career, neither money, nor power. This character is flint. Such a woman is an integral personality, not crushed to pieces.
The sacred fire of the family
The Roman goddesses, according to their purpose, and indeed nature,"Copy" the Greek. So, Vesta is like Hestia's sister. She had many helpers. So, in the temples for the sacred fire prigadyvali girls vestal. They guarded the peace, warmth, faithfulness of the home. And how would represent the image of this goddess. They lived separately from all. The Romans greatly esteemed them and ordered them to behave like Hestia. That is chaste and honest.
If someone from the Vestal lost his virginity, then the consequences for her were catastrophic. The anger of the people was just terrible.
Of all the inhabitants of Olympus, one Hestia was notincluded in all sorts of intrigues, conflicts. And she did not have such abilities. Its sphere is wisdom, intelligence, discretion, calmness and justice.
