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Hestia

Greek virgin Goddess of the hearth - fire. (in Rome: Vesta)

Hestia

Hestia is the daughter of Kronos and Rhea. She was the Holy Hearth, goddess of hearth (hestia) and hearth-fire. Her sacred place was at the centre of the household and also at the hearth of the city. Hestia was higly honored but never very famous in Greek myth. She was more or less confined to her place at the centre of the home. She didn´t take part in the ordinary activities of the gods, yet Hestia remains forever at the centre. Fire is a pure and purifying element so Hestia was considered to be a Virgin goddess. Her sacred hearth-fire was guarded by the unmarried girls of the household.


Hestia - Thomasprints.com

Beginning with Hestia

Hestia was important in rituals. She would usually receive the first offering at sacrifices. She would normally be invoked before any other god in prayers. The first and final libations would be dedicated to her at feasts. This inspired the proverbial phrase "beginning with Hestia" which means to make a good proper start or sound beginning of something.

Another ancient saying regarding Hestia and her sacred fire is that it could be said that "Hestia´s laughing" when the fire crackled.

Vesta

The Romans identified Hestia with their goddess Vesta, the Roman goddess of the hearth and keeper of the sacred fire on Mount Olympus. Vesta was more important and more public than Hestia in her cult as guardian of the Roman state. Her priestess were called Vesta Virgins. They lived a life of chastity and guarded the sacred flame.

Sources:

Robin Hard, the Routledge Handbook of Greek Mythology 2004