Hestia

 

Hestia

Hestia was the daughter of Rhea and Cronus. When Apollo and Poseidon became suitors for her hand, she swore to remain a maiden forever, whereupon Zeus gave her the honour of presiding over all sacrifices. Hestia the goddess of the family hearth and domestic life, was sometime also worshiped at the civic hearth in public buildings. 

As the goddess of the family hearth she also presided over the cooking of bread and the preparation of family meal. Hestia as the goddess of the sacrificial flame, received a share of every sacrifice to the gods. The cooking of the communal feast of sacrificial meat was naturally a part of her domain. Hestia was the first born child of Cronus and Rhea, who was swallowed by her father at birth. Zeus later forced Cronus to disgorge Hestia and her siblings. As the first to be swallowed, she was also the last to be disgorged and so was named as both the eldest and youngest of the six children of Cronus.

Related
  The Twelve Olympians :

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