Hestia
(Vesta)

Hestia is one of the three daughters, along with Hera and Demeter, of Rhea and Cronus. Zeus gave her special permission to remain a virgin and placed her in Olympus, where she represents the sanctity of the home of the gods. She is the virgin goddess who lives her life unspotted by the world, detached from all the tumult and politics of gods and men.

To mortals, she is on earth as in heaven the Goddess of the Hearth, the symbol of the home and familial happiness. As such, her name frequently appears in prayers of supplication and thanksgiving. However, as Edith Hamilton notes, "She has no distinct personality and she plays no part in the myths."

Hestia was said to preside over the fire in the hearth. In the Roman cult of Vesta, fire played an essential symbolic role, and the priest of Vesta was assisted by six Vestal Virgins who constantly attended to the goddess's flame. (Compare the parable of Jesus about the ten virgins who were expected to maintain the fire in their lamps while awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom (Matt. 25.1-13).)