Tag: hestia

I read that poem about Hestia and I like it, don’t get me wrong but I actually always view Hestia as a goddess of necessity, rather than one of luxury. She’s the safety of home and the nutrients of breakfast. She’s tea and coffee and all that, yes, but that’s hardly luxurious at least not when compared to the other Theoi esp Aphordite and Dionysus. Good poem though.

pieandhotdogs:

Au contraire dear anon! Just a glance at the Orphic Hymn 24 to Hestia indicates otherwise:

“Hestia, you who tend the holy house of the lord Apollo, the Far-shooter at goodly Pytho, with soft oil dripping ever from your locks, come now into this house, come, having one mind with Zeus the all-wise —draw near, and withal bestow grace upon my song.”

I would like to bring the focus to the phrase “with soft oil dripping ever from your locks”, because that is indicative of the luxury surrounding Hestia, and the Theoi as a whole.

Remember that the ancient world was a fairly smelly place. Running water was a rare occurrence, and daily or even weekly bathing was a luxury that few could afford. Domesticated animals such as goats and cows milled about the polis with the public, adding certain aromas to the marketplace. Without modern air conditioning, even the wealthiest of Hellenes were likely sweaty messes throughout the day, and commoners were a hopeless cause as far as keeping the stink out was concerned.

Remember that our modern alcohol-based perfumes didn’t come into vogue until the Elizabethan era, so perfumes were made up of scented oils, which required a much larger quantity to mask body odor and sweat. The wealthy were often smeared head to toe with oils and were particularly pungent with the scent of flowers and incense.

The ancients would have envisioned their gods in the same manner as their beautiful and wealthy citizens. One could imagine that the Theoi were exceedingly fragrant, and likely shined with the amount of oil that bathed their godly skins. Indeed, Hestia appears in the hymns as having oil “ever-flowing” from her hair. This is a symbol of the very luxury that exemplifies Olympos.

You’re correct that Hestia seems to be a “simpler” goddess than her siblings. However, this is indicative of her role as an intermediary between mortals and gods. She receives our prayers and takes them to the foot of her holy brethren, but even more importantly, she brings the light, glory, and yes, the luxury of immortality into our very homes. She is a light-bearer of the grace of the Theoi, and it does her, and us, a disservice to downplay that godly nature.

Hestia, to me, is many things.
She’s the smoky puffs the dryer makes outside my window,
Releasing warm air to mingle with the cold wind.
She’s the mahogany colour of the seat of our chairs in the kitchen,
And chocolate syrup spilled across the table.

Hestia is reclining on a cool leather couch after being outside in the summertime,
The sweet tea my mother makes and the sugar I inevitably add.
Hestia is my mother’s happy smile,
And her favourite Starbucks coffee.

She’s the smell of my dad’s cologne in the morning,
And the ever-playing TV blaring a children’s show.

Hestia is comfort, my family’s own unique rhythm and way of life.
Hestia is tiny hands grasping chocolate milk,
And Hestia is different for everyone.

@temples-wreathed-in-laurel

“To Hestia of My Home”

(via temples-wreathed-in-laurel)

Hestia Feels

bestiarum-genetrix:

I’m really not close to Hestia but I have a great appreciation for her.

I appreciate her importance to us though she’s so rarely praised.

I appreciate the warm feeling I get when I think of her and the soft scent of sweet potato pie in the oven and a toasty fire.

I appreciate how she supports “chosen” families along with “real” families.

As much as I appreciate her I also get this feeling that she’s sad very often. Sad that not many of the gods listen to her. Sad that her family is always arguing and fighting. Sad that she just wants everyone to come together and be at peace with one another. Sad that she just wants her family to act like a family again.

Maybe this doesn’t resonate with a lot of people but I feel this strongly with her.

ἑστίη, ἣ πάντων ἐν δώμασιν ὑψηλοῖσιν
ἀθανάτων τε θεῶν χαμαὶ ἐρχομένων τ᾽ ἀνθρώπων
ἕδρην ἀίδιον ἔλαχες, πρεσβηίδα τιμήν,
καλὸν ἔχουσα γέρας καὶ τίμιον: οὐ γὰρ ἄτερ σοῦ
εἰλαπίναι θνητοῖσιν, ἵν᾽ οὐ πρώτῃ πυμάτῃ τε
Ἑστίῃ ἀρχόμενος σπένδει μελιηδέα οἶνον:
καὶ σύ μοι, Ἀργειφόντα, Διὸς καὶ Μαιάδος υἱέ,
ἄγγελε τῶν μακάρων, χρυσόρραπι, δῶτορ ἐάων,
ἵλαος ὢν ἐπάρηγε σὺν αἰδοίῃ τε φίλῃ τε.
ναίετε δώματα καλά, φίλα φρεσὶν ἀλλήλοισιν
εἰδότες: ἀμφότεροι γὰρ ἐπιχθονίων ἀνθρώπων
εἰδότες ἔργματα καλὰ νόῳ θ᾽ ἕσπεσθε καὶ ἥβῃ.
χαῖρε, Κρόνου θύγατερ, σύ τε καὶ χρυσόρραπις Ἑρμῆς:
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ὑμέων τε καὶ ἄλλης μνήσομ᾽ ἀοιδῆς.
–
O Hestia, you who of all in the high houses
of the deathless gods and earth-traversing mortals
obtained the everlasting seat, the highest honor,
possessing a noble and prized gift– for without you,
there are no feasts for mortals, none where the leader
does not pour honey-sweet wine to Hestia first and last–
and you also, Argos-slayer, son of Zeus and Maia,
messenger of the blessed, with golden wand, giver of good fortune:
Propitious, please come to my aid with kindly compassion.
Dwell in fine halls, versed in things dear to each other’s
thoughts: for you know the noble works of earthbound mortals 
and attend upon wit and youth.
Hail, daughter of Kronos, and you, Hermes of the golden wand:
As for me, I will remember you both and another song.

Homeric Hymn to Hestia (29)