HESTIA

Real Name: Hestia

Identity/Class: Olympian god

Occupation: Goddess of the home

Group Membership: Olympian gods

Affiliations: Olympian gods

Enemies: Titans, Typhon

Known Relatives: Cronus (father), Rhea (mother); Gaea (grandmother), Ouranos (grandfather, deceased); Chiron (half-brother), Neptune, Pluto, Zeus (brothers); Demeter, Hera (sisters); Crius, Coeus, Hyperion, Iapetus, Oceanus (uncles); Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys, Theia, Themis (aunts); Asteria, Atlas, Eos, Epimetheus, Leto, Prometheus, Selene (cousins), Menoetius (cousin, deceased); Apollo, Ares, Dionysus, Hephaestus, Hercules, Hermes, Polyphemus, Triton (nephews); Artemis, Athena, Eilithyia, Eris, Hebe, Persephone, Venus (nieces)

Aliases: Vesta

Base of Operations: Olympus; formerly Earth

First Appearance: Thor I#301 (November, 1980)

Powers/Abilities: Vesta possesses the conventional powers of the Olympian gods including superhuman strength (Class 25), vitality, longevity and resistance to injury. Vesta also has undefined mystical energy-wielding powers. Although not depicted, Vesta's mystical powers presumably enable her to fly at great speed, shape-change her form to manipulate her size or appearance to that of another person, animal or object, and render herself and other beings invisible from mortal eyesight. Vesta may be able to change the form of other beings or objects. Since she once spent time on Earth helping the ancient Greeks with domestication techniques presumably she can teleport between dimensions such as from Olympus to Earth.

Height: 5'8"
Weight: 410 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blonde

History: (Greek-Roman Myth) - Vesta is the eldest daughter of the Titan-gods Cronus and Rhea. Fearing that he would be dethroned by one of his offspring just as he had overthrown his own father Ouranos, Cronus imprisoned each of his own offspring in Tartarus, the darkest section of Hades, the Olympian underworld, as soon as he or she was born. (Later legends erroneously claimed that Cronus had actually swallowed his children and that they remained alive inside him until Zeus released them). While trapped in Tartarus, Vesta regarded her younger siblings as her wards and saw to their well-being. Appalled at Cronus' treatment of their children, the children's mother Rhea gave birth to Zeus without Cronus's knowledge and gave him to the primeval Earth goddess Gaea to be raised in secret. The adult Zeus freed his siblings and led them in a successful revolt against Cronus and the Titans.

After Zeus established himself as supreme monarch of the Olympus and the Olympian gods, Vesta became the domestic engineer of Olympus. She was assisted in her tasks by her cousin, the Titan Prometheus. Prometheus, however, had developed great affection for the ancient Greeks who worshipped the Olympians which eventually led him to steal the fire of the gods and give a portion of it to mortal man. Vesta was aware of Prometheus' actions but turned a blind eye to them. Prometheus ended up being punished by Zeus for his conduct for several millennia before eventually being rescued by the demigod son of Zeus, Hercules. At one point, Vesta was desired by both Apollo and Neptune. In response to this she swore a vow of chastity to Zeus which he honoured even today. 

Vesta once was a member of the ruling council of Olympian gods which was comprised of Zeus, Hera, Neptune, Demeter, and Vesta, together with Zeus's children Apollo, Ares, Artemis, Athena, Hephaestus, Hermes, and Venus. She later resigned her seat at the high table in favour of Zeus' son, her nephew Dionysus, who then became one of the twelve great Olympian gods. It was said she did so because she grew tired of the gods' petty bickerings during council meetings. Her worship under the name of Vesta (as she was named Hestia at birth and was so worshipped in Greece) carried over to the ancient Romans after the survivors of the fallen city of Troy travelled to the lands of Italy. Under the name of Vesta, she had numerous priestesses called the Vestal Virgins who paid her homage and tribute to her ancient vow of chastity. 

(Thor I#301) - Vesta was present when the Asgardian Thor came to Olympus, asking Zeus' help in reviving the Asgardians slain in battle with the Celestials.

(Hercules III#4 - BTS) - Vesta was possibly present with the Olympian pantheon as they convened a board meeting on Earth at the Olympus Group, assuming the appearances of mortal businessmen in an attempt to maintain some connection with humanity. Zeus had gathered them to confront Hera for manipulating Hercules into appearing on a reality television show as part of an attempt to gain revenge upon him, but he wound up being jeered at by his own family for his many infidelities. They finally voted against interfering with Hercules' labors.

(Hercules: Fall of an Avenger#1 - BTS) - Athena led the Olympus Group including Hestia to the funeral of Hercules.

(Hercules: Fall of an Avenger#1) - Hestia was present when Athena laid claim to the throne of Olympus. She didn't oppose her decision despite being Zeus' sister because she never wanted to rule anyway.

Comments: Adapted by Mark Gruenwald, Ralph Macchio and Keith Pollard.

Vesta was not mentioned by name in Thor I#301, but the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #8 identified her as being one of the Olympians seen.

by Alex K, Prime Eternal and Will Uchtman

CLARIFICATIONS:
Vesta should not be confused with:

  • Vessel of Gene Nation, @ Uncanny X-Men #323

Appearances:
Thor I#301 (November, 1980) - Mark Gruenwald & Ralph Macchio (writers), Keith Pollard (pencils), Chic Stone (inks), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Hercules III#4 (September, 2005) - Frank Tieri (writer), Mark Texeira (penciler), Jimmy Palmiotti (inker), Axel Alonso (editor)
Hercules: Fall of an Avenger#1-2 (May-June) - Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente (writers), Ariel Olivetti (artist), Mark Paniccia (editor)


Last updated: 08/29/05

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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