Goddess of fire and home. Ancient Greek goddess Hestia

The mythology of the Hellenes was based on their perception of 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 in the bowels of born Tartarus. This is a terrible black abyss. Then came all the animating Love, then Day and Night, Light and Darkness. And so on.

Gradually, the Greek gods and goddesses gathered in a whole community, where its members were bound by blood ties. Fathers, mothers, uncles and aunts, cousins and cousins, nephews, grandchildren ...

To them were added heroes, titans and other deserving respect and veneration of the celestials.

Ancient man felt himself at once in two parallel worlds. On Earth, he lived, worked and raised children. And on top of him was looking at this or that god. He had to be read, asked for help and thanked. Obeying is necessary, otherwise the patron can be very angry.

So the ancient Greek history, interwoven with mythology, is very interesting. The culture of Hellas 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 connected with the general 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, patron of the military, the Romans called Mars. 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 a home 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 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 heat is called Vesta.

You ask, what did this Hestia look like? The same beautiful Aphrodite - naked and with an apple in her right hand - many saw. White marble to her face! The sculpture of Hera, the main goddess on Olympus, the progenitor of absolutely all other gods, is also impressive. And the warrior Athena, daughter of Zeus, we represent. Only here the modest Hestia - in human form - was never portrayed before. But everyone felt it and so - in the living flame of the hearth, then in the fire of the church, the temple, the dwelling.

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 light-headed, it's the most serious, severe. Also the girl was always 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 so happened (and it's very natural) that the goddess of fire and the home became simultaneously the patroness of the community of each city. Only Hestia was dedicated to their main buildings. Inside stood the 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 sometimes boil violent passions! 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. I was fond of love and marriage, childbirth. She also fed babies. Despite such a large circle of duties, the beautiful woman managed to flirt with the men of Olympus. And her authority was subordinated to everything - and eternal gods, and mere mortals. Who wants to - that will send love, like happiness or suffering.

Only in any way she could not affect the "obstinate" and independent from 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 tranquil sea abyss. 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, a serviceable 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 universal favorite and the 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 start with Hestia". What does it mean? Strict and majestic, very responsible, the goddess of fire and a 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 made such a statement.

To her, this thoroughly strict, demanding 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 - the pillar - 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 the owner wealth.

So these gods harmoniously complemented each other.

Not subject to influence

When we distinguish the features of Hestia in some modern woman, then be sure: 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 always remains with her personal opinion. It can not be bought either by 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 vestalki. 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 one of the Vestals lost their virginity, the consequences for it were catastrophic. The anger of the people was just terrible.

Of all the inhabitants of Olympus, Hestia was not included in all sorts of intrigues and conflicts. And she did not have such abilities. Its sphere is wisdom, intelligence, discretion, calmness and justice.

And today, virtue, humanity and kindness are also associated with the goddess Hestia.