Histia was the first born child of the Titans, Kronos (Cronos) and Rheia (Rhea). By being the firstborn, Histia was the first of the children to be swallowed by Kronos in his attempt to prevent one of his children from taking his throne. After Kronos had devoured five of his children, Rheia substituted a stone for her sixth child, Zeus, so that he was not swallowed by his pitiless father. After Zeus was grown, he attacked Kronos with such violence that he (Kronos) disgorged the swallowed children. Histia was the last to be spewed forth and so she is considered the youngest AND the oldest Olympian, i.e. the first born to Rheia (oldest) and the last to be freed from Kronos’ belly (youngest). Histia is the sister of: Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, Demeter and Hera.
As one of the Olympians, Histia is primarily known as the Goddess of the Hearth ... the protector of home and family ... the goddess of humble domestic joy. She shares her love of the common people with Hermes and is credited with appreciating the good works that people do. She has never wed but still protects orphans and missing children and chooses to spend her time, not on Mount Olympos (Olympus), but on earth with the mortals she loves and protects. Her worshipers sing:
There could be no feast of plenty if the first and last
libations of sweet wine were not poured in honor of Histia.
Histia is also one of only three Olympians who are immune to the spells of the goddess of Love, Aphrodite ... the other two are Athene (Athena) and Artemis. When Poseidon (lord of the Sea) and Apollon sought to marry Histia, she touched the head of Zeus and swore a great oath that she would remain a maiden all of her days. She is one of the few Immortals who is always welcomed by mortals and Immortals alike because of the grace and sincerity which she radiates. She tends the sacred dwelling of Apollon at Pytho, i.e. Delphi, and a perpetual fire was kept burning in her honor in the capital city of each province, at Delphi and Olympia. Whenever new colonies were founded, fire was taken from Delphi to the new settlement to insure Histia’s blessings.
