Hestia by Giustiniani
Ancient Greek Mythology, Religion, Art
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Because of Hestia's preoccupation with peace and tranquility, she was greatly respected by the Greeks - they saw her as the most deity who exemplified the most tranquility, gentleness, and kindness of all the gods. She was always fair, always committed to her beliefs, and the embodiment of the ideals of the tightly knit family in a Greek household. She only rarely appears in any works of art and temples dedicated to her, aside from the common hearths, were unusual. It's not even certain if any examples of Greek statues of Hestia still exist, but there is the Giustiniani Vesta that seems a likely candidate.
At the same time, though, this didn't allow for much in the way of interesting stories. Hestia isn't portrayed as every leaving Mt. Olympus and participating in adventures like the other gods. One of the few tales that has survived tells of how both Poseidon and Hermes tried to seduce her but, in order not to be responsible for causing strife, she at this point committed herself to virginity so that no one could have her.
This is not to say that Hestia was uninvolved in the lives of the gods or of mortals. Rescued from their father by Zeus, she assisted him in his battles against both the Titans and the Giants. Through her assistance, Zeus was able to establish his own authority and structure the natural order in a manner that was suitable to everyone. Because of this Zeus gave her the unique honor of being able to obtain whatever she wanted at any time, even without getting his prior help or approval.
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