Hestia // Styled Shoot

Hestia is the goddess of the hearth, home, architecture, domesticity, family, and the state. A goddess of the Olympian generation, she is the daughter of Rhea and Cronus and sister to Hades, Demeter, Poseidon, Hera, and Zeus. She is one of the three virgin goddesses and never had any children.

As the goddess of the hearth, Hestia received the first and last offering at every sacrifice in the household or temple with families pouring sweet wine in her name and dedicating the best portion of the food to her. Hestia personified the fire burning in the hearth of every home and temple in Greece.

 The hearth fire in the household was not allowed to go out by any family unless it was ritually extinguished. Though Hestia did not have a public cult, she was worshipped at any temple, regardless of the god the temple was dedicated to. Hestia is described as a kind, forgiving, and discreet goddess with an earnest and non-confrontational nature.

The Greek goddess Hestia, often associated with the center of the home and family, is represented by emblems symbolizing her kind and welcoming nature. Her symbols are a donkey, cat, hollyhock, kettle, food, wine, architecture, domesticity, fire, and the hearth.

Photographer’s Statement:

The seven Greek Goddesses, Aphrodite, Artemis, Athena, Demeter, Hera, Hestia, and Persephone, are a crucial part of Greek mythology. There were considered the pinnacle of beauty, power, and majesty. As such, there were the subject of fascination and admiration for the people in Ancient Greece. Each goddess had certain domains that they ruled over and were prominent in many myths.

I hope to capture my vision of the Greek goddesses in my photographs to showcase the way that I see beauty, power, history, literature, and art. This collection of work comes from my desire to preserve and showcase my vision of not only powerful, strong, beautiful women, but a wonderful ancient society that still continues to influence us in our world today.