In Greek Mythology, Goddess Hestia and Goddess Demeter are the daughters of Cronus and Rhea, sisters of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades and Hera, two goddesses living on Mount Olympus. While the goddess Hestia never leaves Mount Olympus because she is a domestic goddess, Demeter, symbolizing the earth, crops and wheat, is a goddess who descends to earth and among the mortals.

Who is the Goddess Hestia?

In Greek mythology, Hestia is the goddess of the heart, hearth and sacred fire. She is the daughter of Titans Cronus and Rhea and the oldest of the siblings.

The goddess never left Olympus. She was a peaceful goddess. However, unlike other gods and goddesses, she never interfered in the relations between gods and humans.

The eldest of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera and Demeter, the Goddess Hestia was a divine being who was considered pure and completely good among mortals. She was considered generous and compassionate.

She was an important goddess for the household, considered a family goddess. However, she also had the role of protector of society.

There were also gods who wanted to marry the Goddess, who never left Olympus and was therefore considered a domestic goddess and defined as the goddess of the family. Her brother Poseidon and her nephew Apollo wanted to marry her, but she rejected them both. Instead, she asked her brother Zeus to support her in preserving her virginity and vowed to remain a virgin. The goddess Hestia is one of the three virgin goddesses in Greek mythology, along with Athena and Artemis.

Hestia’s vow of virginity was respected, but there were some exceptions. One of these people was Priapus. Priapus, who saw Hestia and desired the goddess, secretly approached the goddess one night, but the goddess noticed Priapus with the braying of a donkey and Priapus’ attempt ended in failure. His whole plan is ruined and he has to flee.

Who is Priapus?

Priapus  (Priapos) is the son of the goddess Aphrodite and the god Dionysus in Greek Mythology. He is known as the god of gardens and fertility, There are different explanations about the origin of the god.

He is known as an ugly and deformed god. It is said in mythology that he has penis almost as big as his height.

Symbols of the Goddess:  Sacred fire

Who is the Goddess Demeter?

In Greek mythology, the Goddess Demeter was the daughter of Rhea and Cronus and the sister of Hestia, Hera, Poseidon, Hades and Zeus. She was the mother of Persophone, the focal point of one of the most important myths in mythology.

Demeter was the goddess of soil, fertility, wheat and corn, and for this reason she is also known as “mother earth”, but her difference from Gaia was that she symbolized not the soil itself, but the products taken from the soil. She especially symbolizes crops and wheat. Since she is considered the goddess of crops and harvest, she is an important goddess for humans and popular among mortals. She was considered a kind and generous goddess, but it is also seen in Greek myths about her that she sometimes inflicted severe punishments.

Relationships of the Goddess Demeter

Zeus

According to some sources, Demeter is one of Zeus’ wives. According to these sources, Zeus made his fourth marriage with the goddess. Most sources, on the other hand, say that the goddess did not marry, so the marriage is not specified. Persephone was born from the relationship between the Goddess and Zeus.

Iason

The Goddess fell in love with Iason. From this relationship Plutus/Ploutos (and according to some sources Philomelos) was born. According to some versions, Zeus, who was aware of this relationship, killed Iason by striking him with lightning. According to others, Iason survived. According to some stories, Iason was killed by his own horses.

Who is Plutus?

Plutus is the son born from the union of the goddess and Iason. Plutos (Ploutus) symbolizes prosperity, agricultural yield and fertility.

According to some myths, he was blinded by Zeus who wanted equal distribution of prosperity and wealth.

Poseidon

Two children are born from this union. Despoine  and Areion

Who is Despoine?

Born from the union of the Goddess and Poseidon, Despoine became a goddess worshipped in the Eleusinion Mysteries, a myth and cult surrounding Demeter.

Who is Aerion?

Aerion, born from the union of the Goddess and Poseidon, is a dark colored horse. In this union, Poseidon approached the goddess disguised as a horse, and the goddess turned herself into a mare to escape from this.

Goddess Demeter is mostly depicted with wheat and sickle and sometimes with a torch.

Symbols: Wheat, sheaf of wheat, sickle, crane

  • Sources:
  • Greek and Roman Mythology – Luke Roman/ Monica Roman                
  • Her Yönüyle Klasik Mitoloji – Dr Nancy Conner
  • Yunan Mitleri – Lucilla Burn
  • Classical Mythology – Mark P.O Marford / Robert S. Lenardon
  • Yunan ve Roma Mitolojisi. – Colette Estin
  • Mitoloji Sözlüğü – Azra Erhat