Hestia, Dionysus & Mythology

Anetteprs Illustrations' Hestia

Hail Hestia! She was one of my first deities, and revealed Herself to me when I was very young. She is one of my Spiritual Mothers and I am one of Her priestesses. And I really love this depiction of Her (I adore this artists' work. Go check out their website!).  So beautiful.

If you click on the link and read what the artist wrote about Hestia, she writes a little bit of myth by Robert Graves about Hestia giving up her spot on Mount Olympus for Dionysus.  Personal Opinion Time and no shade is being thrown at the artist, this is a common myth that some accept, some don't.  I don't like Robert Graves.

Do I see this myth as a literal thing?  No.  I do not take myths literally; in my experience there are huge differences between real entities and myth entities.  Often time, myth entities are just characters in a story, a piece of fanfiction.  They are stories written by humans with their own agendas: lessons, entertainment, fearmongering, a means to control people, ways to oppress cultures (like some of the ancient Hellens did to the Minoans for example).  The ancient writers and artists were not the end-all, be-all of these entities.  Why do they know than us modern people?  Why are their stories more legit than ours?

Do I think that some myths were given by the Gods?  Yes, because I have some of my own modern myths that were given to me by my Gods, or they were visions or journeys that I turned into my own personal Modern Mythology.  But do I go around and say, this myth is truth and should be accepted as such?  No.  It's my truth.  A spiritual experience and story that I went through.  A modern myth that is true to me.  One might say UPG, but it's verified to me.  I share my modern personal myths because they're interesting and sometimes other people vibe with them too.  But I don't expect them to be widely accepted.  We all have our own experiences with these beings.  Most of us have our own amazing stories and modern myths.  

I don't know much about Robert Graves, and I don't know if his intentions were that his stories were taken as fact, or that for some reason only HE had access to some ancient historical facts that no one else did or whatever.

In the end, myths are just stories, and there tends to be more than one version, be it ancient or modern.  We all have our own preferences.  I think it's only wrong if a person is hubristic--speaking on behalf of the gods, claiming a myth as the absolutely truth, like you often see in Christianity.  Yes, the Bible is a book of mythology, too, not meant to be taken literally.  

The way I see it, Hestia didn't give up Her place to Dionysus.  There's nothing wrong with modern mythology, I actually tend to prefer modern myths to ancient ones.  I don't live in those times, in that culture, with those social norms.  In live here and now.  I like the myths to reflect that.  My entities aren't stuck in the past.  They're alive and evolve with the times.

I have issue with why it's the Stay-at-Home-Goddess, the Caretaker Goddess, and a once very important (and still important to many Hellenic Pagans) goddess who is the one who gives up Her spot to Dionysus (I adore Him too). Why Her? Why not a shit-stirrer?  A trouble maker?  Why the peaceful one? Wouldn't you want someone level-headed on the council? Feels sexist to me that this modest homemaker--Hestia, the FIRST and the LAST--gave up Her spot. Just doesn't fly with me.  Doesn't make any sense.

 
Again, someone of Hearth and Home gets shit on. Maybe because I'm a Stay-at-Home-Parent and I've felt that sting of judgement of people saying that what I do isn't "real work" and that it's not difficult and that I don't have anything to complain about. How the workforce tends to look down on people who have gaps in their resumes because for whatever reason they stayed home (in our case childcare is stupid expensive and we saved money not doing daycare). How sometimes people treat us like we're lazy and stupid, and not worth taking a chance on for hire.

So no, I adore Dionysus, but Hestia did not give up Her spot.  Not a fan of this story.

I feel that it's important to have Hearth and Home entities in positions of power and respect, and just not closeted away in the house, for someone--especially another male (albeit androgynous and gender fluid)--to take Their place.  It's bullshit.  We matter, and representation matters, too.