Also called Ortygia.
Their story
Asteria is a Titaness, daughter of Coeus and Phoebe and sister of Leto. By Perses she bore Hecate. To escape the pursuit of Zeus she turned herself into a quail and plunged into the sea, becoming the island Ortygia, later Delos, where her sister Leto gave birth.
Best times to give to them
- On clear starry nights
- When you see a shooting star
- Alongside her daughter Hecate
What they like being given
- A candle lit under the stars
- Fresh water
- Silver or white flowers
How to honour them
- Spend time looking at the stars and naming what you see.
- Honour her with Hecate, her daughter.
- Ask for the courage to refuse what is forced upon you.
How they can help you
- Night-time reflection
- Dreams and omens
- Escaping unwanted pursuit
Symbols
- stars
- quail
- island
Her link with shooting stars and prophecy comes from her name and later sources rather than clear ancient cult.
Sources
- Hesiod, Theogony 409-411
- Apollodorus, Library 1.4.1
- Callimachus, Hymn 4, to Delos 36-40
More Greek goddesses
- Hera Queen of heaven and guardian of marriage
- Athena Grey-eyed goddess of wisdom and craft
- Artemis Lady of wild things and the hunt
- Aphrodite Foam-born goddess of love and beauty
- Hestia Goddess of the hearth and the home fire
- Demeter Mother of the grain and the harvest
- Persephone Queen of the underworld and the returning spring
- Hecate Keeper of crossroads and keys