The beginnings of Hecates worship are shrouded in mystery. In the physical world this could mean anything from doorways to city walls and state borders. There are cult sites for the goddess Hecate in Caria, which shows that people there worshipped her. Mythical Facts about Hecate Fact 1: Shrines to the goddess were placed at the doorways of homes and as protection from the dead and evil spirits. Hecate is closely associated with several other goddesses in the Greek pantheon, with symbolism and function seeming to overlap. This is shown in Act III, scene five of the play. People believed that by honoring and praying to this Goddess, their homes would be preserved from the vengeance of the dead. Eventually, this came to include the boundary between the natural and the supernatural, making her a goddess of magic. Hecate was believed to be a goddess of both the living world and the underworld. Those who failed to win the goddesss favor could expect her to invite evil and misfortune into their lives. HEKATE (Hecate) was the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy. This makes her the granddaughter of Phoebe and Coeus, both Titans. Her attributes, besides the torch, are the snake, whip, dagger, and sword. As goddesses that straddled the boundary between this world and the afterlife, they were believed to be the keys to uncovering the secrets of what lay beyond that boundary. While Hera was considered a singular being, she was given three names to represent her different stages in life maiden, wife, and mother. However, she was transformed by Circe into the monster form. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content. Her friends are the Erinyes, winged creatures that punish bad behaviour, and her children are the Empusae, female demons that like to seduce travellers. Latin Spelling. People used to believe that dogs would eat the dead if they werent buried. The aspects of the goddess that had darker connotations were separated from her to create another goddess altogether in the character of Hecate. Such triple goddesses were common in ancient religions. The Tridevi The triad of goddesses in Hinduism often represents the three states of creation, preservation, and destruction. Sources say there was a sacred garden dedicated to Hecate at her temple in Colchis (modern day Georgia). This is a reminder of her role as a goddess of the night, a guardian of the gates to Hades, and a goddess of boundaries. Regula, deTraci. The food offered to this deity included cheese, cakes of eggs, and a dish of red mullet. Hecate (Hekate) is the goddess of boundaries and guardian of crossroads; she is often shown with three faces and carrying a torch to show her connection to the night. It is believed that Hecate represented witchcraft, magic and ghosts. As you may already know Hecateis a goddess ofGreek mythologywho was capable of both good and evil. Read on to find out more about Greeces most mystical goddess! Please like and share this article if you found it useful. Though perhaps originally an indigenous woodland goddess, Diana early became identified with Artemis. People often put pictures of the triple goddess on city walls, especially at city gates, the entrances to sacred sites, and the doorways of private homes. Another option was a dish of red mullet, which was usually not allowed to be given to other gods. The Lampades are people who carry torches and travel with the goddess at night. Hecate was variously associated with crossroads, entrance-ways, dogs, light, the moon, magic, witchcraft, knowledge of herbs and poisonous plants, ghosts, necromancy, and sorcery. Still another school of thought links her, at least linguistically, to Egypt. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, A Recommended Book on Hekate Liminal Rites, Planetary MAGICK -7 Facts you should know, Magickal Protection-The BEST 10 SOLUTIONS. She was a goddess of magic and the underworld, but she was also a protector of the home and a guardian of borders. Greek pantheon was once much smaller than we know. There might not be any figure in Greek mythology that is as misunderstood as Hecate. Hecate typically responds to petitions via visions and dreams. Who is Hecate? Even Zeus, the King of the Olympian Gods, is said to have reverenced her, and there are hints that she was considered to be an all-powerful goddess. There is a belief, therefore, that the three goddesses may be aspects of a singular, earlier deity. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! Is Hecate a jealous goddess? Some later stories agreed that Asteria was her mother, but claimed Zeus had been her father. Her origins and powers were unexplained and changeable. In her form as a triple goddess, Hecate was closely linked to intersections. Contrary to popular current belief she wasnt originally a matron for women but for all who fit the above categories. She could switch between being a Titan and a goddess in Greek mythology. Performance & security by Cloudflare. She was the ruler of crossroads, entrances, nighttime, light, magic (witchcraft and sorcery), herbs and plants. Her considerable power over nature ensured her continued popularity, but she's never fitted in with the crowd. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. She is depicted on the altar of Pergamon with one body and three heads (ca. She is helping a dog attack a giant who looks like a snake. Classical scholars have differing views about where the worship of Hecate in Ancient Greece came from. Nearby Recently Sold Homes. Author: Hecate He | Editor: Michael Sarazen. Hecate (also spelt Hekate) is a goddess capable of both good and evil. Hecate was a goddess of boundaries and in between spaces. In Ancient Greek religion, Hecate had a wide range of godly tasks. This was a terrible fate. What Were the Hamadryads in Greek Mythology? My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Hecate's name (Greek: Hekate, Latin: Hecate) means far-reaching one, and hints at this goddess's wide influence over a variety of earthly and supernatural affairs. Moreover, the fact that Hecate had a Greek name does not necessarily mean that her cult originated in Greece (she more likely emerged from Caria in Asia Minor). In fact, Hecate might have been another goddess altogether! Hecate appears in many plays and poems as the personification of darkness, the moon, and magic. In the sources about Hekate that are from the ancient world, the crossroads are not mentioned as a symbol of Hecate. One of her epithets, Apotropaia, references the protection she gave in these spaces. Follow for more great fun learning. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. Hecate doesnt often appear in Greek art and writing until the 5th century BCE. As worshippers began to focus on one aspect of a god more than others, that gods secondary purposes were separated into another deity altogether. She is also said to be the Goddess of childbirth and the protector of children. But the version of Hecate that appears in Greek texts is not so straightforward. Both of these gods were thought to be in charge of the dead and had something to do with Persephone coming back in the spring. Since the 5th century BCE, the goddess has been linked to the darker parts of life, like death, witchcraft, magic, the Moon, dreams, fierce hounds, and creatures that roam the night. As these stories were passed on, though, they often changed. You may like to light incense such as the smoke of wormwood, cypress and lavender in these offerings. She rules wisdom, choices, expiation, victory, vengeance, and travel. Moving between the barrier between life and death explains Hecates connection to both ghosts and necromancy. Hecate is portrayed in single form on sculptures of Myron and Naucydes. She was often shown holding two torches, such as would be found beside gates, to allow her to illuminate both sides of a boundary. Demeter descended to the underworld every spring to bring her daughter back to the surface, making the three goddesses share an association with the underworld. According to her story, Hecate sometimes withheld these blessings if she felt mortals did not deserve them. Some depictions show the Goddess with the head of a dog, horse, and lion, which could be the constellations during the year. This made her one of the few deities to have the power to move freely between the world of the living and the underworld. People left the food there to honor Hecate. Omissions? The Goddess Hecate is supposed to be the daughter of Perses, a Titan, and Asteria, a nymph. Hecate is also sometimes interpreted in association with Artemis and Selene. The boundaries she oversaw were not limited to the physical world, though. In a hymn to Hecate, Hesiod detailed the ways in which the goddess could both allow good fortune and deny it: Whom she will she greatly aids and advances: she sits by worshipful kings in judgment, and in the assembly whom she will is distinguished among the people. This is especially ironic since, after this, she seems to have become more associated with the underworld, not less. Archaeologists have found essential offerings to the goddess at Lagina in Caria and Phrygia. It is unclear exactly when Hecate became so closely linked with magic and witchcraft. Child of Perses and Asteria, she was the only Titan to retain her control under Zeus' reign. Hecate was a goddess in Greek Mythology. Thus, pillars called Hecataea stood at crossroads and doorways, perhaps to keep away evil spirits. There is evidence that this may have been the case with Hecate. As one of the deities capable of passing between realms, she had access to the secrets of the dead. Hecate rules over the night, magic, and places where three roads meet. The worship of Hecate continued into theHellenisticandRomanperiods with significant archaeological finds of votive offerings to the goddess being found at Lagina in Caria andPhrygia. Hecate, however, is routinely described as the goddess of witchcraft and associated with characters like Medea and Circe, the witch of Homers Odyssey. Of course, as the goddess of boundaries she had the power to let things in as well as keep them out. Hecate is defined by her powerful magic, being at ease with the night and darkness and in wild surroundings. 139.162.195.99 On Greek pottery, she is usually shown as a young woman holding a torch or a key. The Matres While little is known of their exact function, over 1,000 images of the three goddesses have been found in Northwestern Europe. But Hekate was in this time also connected to liminality. All Rights Reserved, Ancient Egyptians The First Woman Pharaoh, A Crunchy Pistachios Tale: 13 Interesting Facts About These Salty Munchies. Sometimes, as was the case with Hecate, it was a single goddess who was shown with three aspects. According to a legend, Odysseus got the Trojan queen Hecuba as a captive after the defeat of Troy. Her name is akin to the Latin words dium ("sky") and dius ("daylight"). The time of the dark moon is a special time of the month to give offerings to Hecate. One sculpture depicts Hecate with a friendly dog and another with heads of a cow, dog, boar, serpent or horse. Her priests are normally accompanied by hell hounds sent by their goddess to guard her temples. $204,000 Last Sold Price. Hecate - A mysterious nature goddess associated with sorcery and witchcraft, who went with Demeter to the Underworld to fetch Persephone, but then stayed to assist Persephone. To learn more about other Goddesses and exciting information, keep visiting on LearningMole. When you buy through the links on our site we may earn a commission. The goddess Hecate is one of the lesser-known goddesses of the Greek pantheon. A: Hecate is the Greek Goddess of magic and witchcraft. She was not portrayed as being loving towards children but as someone who took revenge against anyone that harmed children. The best of the LearningMole geography tutorials. Hesiod describes the goddess in the following glowing terms: Zeus, Cronus son, honoured [Hecate] above all others: he gave her splendid gifts to have a share of the earth and of the barren sea, and from the starry sky as well she has a share in honour, and is honoured most of all by the immortal gods. She is often depicted carrying one or several torches to remind of her connection with the night and insculpturewith three faces, representing her role as the guardian of crossroads. Hecate is the daughter of Perses and Asteria. You may request to banish harm from you and to protect you and your loved ones. They claim she originated in Caria, a region in southern Anatolia on the Mediterranean, and was adopted into the Greek pantheon. Hesiod only talks about her family and how she killed Clytius in the Gigantomachy. The droves of kine and wide herds of goats and flocks of fleecy sheep, if she will, she increases from a few, or makes many to be less. Q: Why was Hecate excluded from witch meetings? She held several different roles, including earth goddess, queen of the underworld, and goddess of magic and witchcraft.. Originally she seems to have been an extremely powerful and benevolent goddess, identified with three other goddessesSelene (in heaven), Artemis (on earth), and Persephone (in the underworld). You have subscribed to: Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter. She appears in Ovid's Metamorphoses. Her name was derived from the Greek word hekatos which means "worker from afar". The Greeks, too, had many different theories about Hecates origins. There are many other interesting facts about Hecate as pointed out by philosophers and researchers. She's ill at ease in cities and civilization. 1.5 Baths. Hecate is usually depicted with a burning torch in her hand and with a dog laying at her feet, its head raised. In other Indo-European cultures, the three-part goddesses included: The archetype of the triple goddess is so common that its considered one of the fundamental aspects of Indo-European religion. Offerings to this Goddess were also made during the night of the new moon. It has been suggested that the idea of magic coming from Hecate was an evolution of the many gifts she was capable of bestowing upon her favorites. Lastly, the goddess is mentioned in the tragedies of Euripides and Sophocles, among others. Hecate is the Goddess of witchcraft, magic, crossroads, ghosts and necromancy. Scholars think that the goddess arrived in Greece during the Archaic period. Hecate is one of the many goddesses in Greek mythology. It was said that she learned herbalism and spells from Hecate herself. They thought she would protect them and keep away evil spirits. She has also been mentioned in the works of Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, King Lear, and Macbeth. This made her one of the few deities to have the power to move freely between the world of the living and the underworld. The well-known Pergamon Altar (from around the 2nd century BCE) shows Hecate as three different things. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, creative tips and more. Some speculate that it represents the full moon, half moon, and new moon. Persis and Asteria, two Titans from the generation of deities prior to the Olympians, are the legendary parents of Hecate. Both goddesses were usually shown with dogs by their sides, wearing hunting boots and carrying torches. Some early writers claimed that Hecate was actually the princess Iphigenia, saved from death by Artemis and transformed into a goddess. Click to reveal In fact she seems to have started out as Heket, the Egyptian Goddess of Childbirth. Hecate, however, took pity on Galinthias. From the 5th century BCE, the goddess hecate is associated with the darker side of the human experience, that isdeath, witchcraft, magick, the Moon, dreams, hell hounds and creatures which roam the darkness of night. My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) Hecate was the chief goddess presiding over magic and spells. This could be because she sided with him during the 10-year battle between the Titans and the Olympians. By her very nature Hecate was a goddess that existed on the edges of the Greek pantheon, yet she was also a household goddess who watched over every door in Greece. Midwives, witches, healers, herbalists, dog lovers and rescuers; she is the matron of women in general and protects those who ride horses, male warriors or cavalry as well. Although Hecate found Persephone, instead of rescuing her, she helped her settle into her new life as the bride of Hades. Long before Hesiod and Homer began writing their poetry, the stories of the gods were passed on through oral tradition. However. Most of the ceremonies and festivals dedicated to this Goddess were often celebrated at night. Sorceresses ask the goddess for help with their magic and spells, and she is shown on curse tablets that have survived. Selenite, tiger's eye, obsidian, rhodochrosite, jet, jasper, agate, and amber are the most suited crystals for Hecate. According to Theogony. Hecate also presided over more mystical boundaries. The earliest archaeological evidence that has been found that proved that this deity was important and worshipped by the people was the circular altar that was used in the 6th century BCE for sacrifices to her. She was a goddess that could be both a protective guardian and a source of menace. She is also mentioned in Aeneid, a play by Virgil where she guides one of the characters, Sibyl, in the Underworld. Was the Griffin a Bird from Greek Mythology? In his book Description of Greece, Pausanias says that the sculptor Alcamenes was the first to show Hecate in three forms in the 5th century BCE. She guides Sibyl through the Underworld in Virgils Aeneid. Hecate (also spelt Hekate) is a goddess capable of both good and evil. Later periods show statues of Hecate in three-fold having 3 separate bodies and faces. Hecate is remembered best not as a goddess of boundaries, but as a goddess of magic.