The goddess, on the other hand, usually has human heads. This is shown by her names and cult titles, such as India (which means on the way), Trodia (which means frequenter of the crossroads), and Propylaia (of the gates). As such, she was greatly honored by Zeus, who allowed her to operate on Earth, as well as the sky and the Underworld. Like Hermes, who was also a deity of liminal spaces, statues of Hecate were often placed at crossroads and borders. She was specifically associated with witchcraft, magick, the Moon, Archways, and creatures of the night such as hell-hounds and ghosts. Hecate is a goddess of life, death, regeneration, and magic. outlandish in her infernal aspects, she is more at home on the fringes than in the centre ofGreekpolytheism. This Goddess is often shown as a woman carrying a key or torches. Writings throughout the centuries have woven different tales about Hecate and her role as a goddess. The Moirai crossed their arms and Eileithyia refused to help the laboring woman. The goddess was given gifts every month on the night of a new moon. A few pagans and Wiccans have also been known to worship Hecate as a dark goddess. The Matres While little is known of their exact function, over 1,000 images of the three goddesses have been found in Northwestern Europe. She held several different roles, including earth goddess, queen of the underworld, and goddess of magic and witchcraft.. In Rome, a similar goddess, Vesta, ruled over the group of priestesses called the Vestal Virgins whose duty it was to keep the sacred fire perpetually lit. Polecats hid in dirty holes and, it was believed by the Greeks, had a grotesque and unnatural way of mating. As the goddess of the night, witchcraft and sorcery, Hecate was very important to ancient Greeks, particularly to the famed author and scholar Hesiod. As you may already know Hecateis a goddess ofGreek mythologywho was capable of both good and evil. Her halos are usually made of moonbeams. The Tridevi The triad of goddesses in Hinduism often represents the three states of creation, preservation, and destruction. The Charites (Graces) and Horai (Seasons) were also trios of minor goddesses in Greek mythology. 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. By the first century CE, Lucans Pharsalia made it clear that Hecate was the goddess of magic and witchcraft. According toHesiodin hisTheogony, Hecate is the daughter of Perses and Asteria, making her the granddaughter of the Titans Phoebe and Coeus. Hecate is also sometimes interpreted in association with Artemis and Selene. According to a legend, Odysseus got the Trojan queen Hecuba as a captive after the defeat of Troy. 139.162.195.99 According to the Greek writer Hesiod*, Hecate was the daughter of the Titan* Perses and the nymph Asteria. Who is Hecate? You have subscribed to: Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter. ThoughtCo, Dec. 6, 2021, thoughtco.com/greek-mythology-hecate-1526205. For many it is a time to connect with Her, to thank her for her blessings, her guidance and her protection during the last lunar cycle and also to ask her to bless and protect them in the new lunar cycle. According to Theogony. They are sometimes represented with the familiar aspects of the maiden, mother, and crone. Why notsubscribe to our LearningMole Library for as little as 1.99 per month to access over1000fun educational videos. Hecate was the chief goddess presiding over magic and spells. Hecate was the chief goddess presiding over magic and spells. Her name is akin to the Latin words dium ("sky") and dius ("daylight"). It was said that she learned herbalism and spells from Hecate herself. The most famous witch in Greek mythology received her knowledge of magic from Hecate. Hecate was a complex, ancient goddess known to the Greeks but originally worshiped by people of Asia Minor*. She was the ruler of crossroads, entrances, nighttime, light, magic (witchcraft and sorcery), herbs and plants. She was also associated with some of the most revered and respected goddesses of Olympus. 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. When you buy through the links on our site we may earn a commission. Hecate was variously associated with crossroads, entrance-ways, dogs, light, the moon, magic, witchcraft, knowledge of herbs and poisonous plants, ghosts, necromancy, and sorcery. Hecate. 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. She is often pictured holding keys because, as the goddess of boundaries, she held the power to open and close the doors to the realm of Hades. Origin and Family Persis and Asteria, two Titans from the generation of deities prior to the Olympians, are the legendary parents of Hecate. Most of all, Hecate was a goddess of mystery. The time of the dark moon is a special time of the month to give offerings to Hecate. 2 Beds. Q: How do the three witches make Hecate angry? Hecates actual origins may be in caria, Turkey we can find The Temple of Hecate in the Sanctuary of Hecate at Lagina in Caria (modern-day Turkey which has been dated to the last quarter of the 2nd century CE. Hecate was sometimes seen as a Titan, like her parents, and in the battle between the Titans and the Greek gods led by Zeus, she helped Zeus and so was not banished to the underworld with the rest of them. Her name was derived from the Greek word hekatos which means worker from afar. As these stories were passed on, though, they often changed. One of Hecates frequent animal companions, and the one that shes most often depicted with, was a black dog. She guides Sibyl through the Underworld in Virgils Aeneid. On Greek pottery, she is usually shown as a young woman holding a torch or a key. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Hecate has the power to grant or deny any mortals wish. Therefore, this deity is also invoked when there is thought to be a miscarriage of justice. Wormwood and cypress are traditional herbs in spirit work and lavender brings a kind of protection to your workings without banishing all the spirits around you at the crossroads. Medeas magic was often described as having to do with necromancy, sleep, and the night. People left the food there to honor Hecate. The goddess Hecate is one of the lesser-known goddesses of the Greek pantheon. If you enjoyed this content why not dive into some more historical eras check out these articles: Ancient Rome, Ancient Egyptians The First Woman Pharaoh, Greek Mythology Medusa, Native American History. Hecate was believed to be a goddess of both the living world and the underworld. She is sometimes shown holding a key. She was not portrayed as being loving towards children but as someone who took revenge against anyone that harmed children. Hecate's powers transcended the boundaries of the sky, the earth, the seas, and the underworld. The Greeks, too, had many different theories about Hecates origins. Hecate appears in many plays and poems as the personification of darkness, the moon, and magic. Anatolia, which covered most of what is now Turkey, was a region that had close ties to the Greek world. Q: Why was Hecate excluded from witch meetings? Some of the statues she made as offerings to the goddess had the Graces dancing around her; In other versions of the story, she is with a pack of dogs. They call her Aristaion or Night. She is believed to visit the Underworld to help other gods and people who were outcasts due to fear. Hecate was the goddess of borders, barriers, and boundaries. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a28cb13cce875e3 Hectate has neither spouse nor children. As Apollo was sometimes known as Hecatos, it is still possible that this feminine form of the name referred to his sister and not a separate goddess. In Hesiod she is the daughter of the Titan Perses and the nymph Asteria and has power over heaven, earth, and sea; hence, she bestows wealth and all the blessings of daily life. "Hecate: Greece's Dark Goddess of the Crossroads." They were often associated with the three stages of life youth, adulthood, and old age. She is described as of terrible appearance, either with three bodies or three heads, the one of a horse, the second of a dog, and the third of a lion.14 In works of art she was some-times represented as a single being, but sometimes also as a three-headed monster.15, Besides Samothrace and Aegina, we find express mention of her worship at Argos16 and at Athens, where she had a sanctuary under the name of Epipyrgidia (), on the acropolis, not far from the temple of Nike.17 Small statues or symbolical representations of Hecate, called (hekataia), were very numerous, especially at Athens, where they stood before or in houses, and on spots where two roads crossed each other; and it would seem that people consulted such as oracles.18, At the close of every month dishes with food were set out for her and other averters of evil at the points where two roads crossed each other; and this food was consumed by poor people.19 The sacrifices offered to her consisted of dogs, honey, and black female lambs.20. Home History Great Facts about Goddess Hecate. The Moirai, or Fates, were one such trio of goddesses. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, Hecate, however, is routinely described as the goddess of witchcraft and associated with characters like Medea and Circe, the witch of Homers Odyssey. Hecate is portrayed in single form on sculptures of Myron and Naucydes. The goddess Hecate is generally depicted as either an old woman in a long dress or a young woman in a knee-length skirt with hunting boots. On an Attic vase from the 5th century BCE, a woman is shown giving a goddess a puppy and a basket of cakes. Some versions of Scylla's myth say she was once a beautiful sea nymph. Hecate was also offered the sacrifice of dogs, especially puppies. 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. Her companions are theFuries(Erinyes), the winged creatures who punished wrong-doing, and her children are the Empusae, female demons partial to seducing travellers. Regula, deTraci. This is especially ironic since, after this, she seems to have become more associated with the underworld, not less. 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 is often displayed holding two torches or a key. It is even more enjoyable Coconuts are delicious. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The duration ofa dark moonvaries between 1.5 and 3.5 days) to the crossroads. In sculptures from the Classical and Hellenistic Periods, Hecate has been shown as a woman with three bodies or a single body with three heads. In literature, there is a clear link between her, Demeter, and Persephone. She was a goddess of magic and the underworld, but she was also a protector of the home and a guardian of borders. Hecate was considered an ancient Thracian divinity and she was also a titan; the titans ruled the heavens, the earth and the sea. Controlling who moved through the border between the earth and the underworld gave her a unique power to summon spirits and raise the dead. According to them, Hecate is known to support bravery and hence encourage soldiers, warriors, athletes, etc. Hecate also presided over more mystical boundaries. In the post-Christian writings of the Chaldean Oracles ( 2nd-3rd century AD ), she was regarded with some rulership over earth, sea, and sky, as well as a more . In ancient times the crossroads didnt have our modern symbolism as a place of choices. Apollo is often called Hekatos, the masculine form of his name. Small cakes made of eggs, cheese, bread, and dog meat were lit with tiny torches. She is often pictured holding keys because, as the goddess of boundaries, she held the power to open and close the doors to the realm of Hades. She is also said to be the Goddess of childbirth and the protector of children. She was a goddess in charge of magic, witchcraft, and much more. The Twelve Olympian Gods and Goddesses of Greek Mythology, Fast Facts on Helios - Greek God of the Sun, 10 Fast Facts on Athena and Her Parthenon, The Story of Nike, the Greek Goddess of Victory, The Greek God Hades, Lord of the Underworld, Fascinating Stories About the Greek God Cronos, Marzanna, Slavic Goddess of Death and Winter, The Greek Mythology of Clash of the Titans. 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. She is also known as Soteria (Savior), the Mother of Angels, and the Cosmic World. 170 BCE). We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so its important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. A statue called Hekate Epipyrgidia (On the Ramparts) stood at the Athens Acropolis entrance. Some authors say that she was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. This was all about Hecate, a goddess in ancient Greek religion. She also assisted the gods in their war with the Gigantes, and slew Clytius.5, This extensive power possessed by Hecate was probably the reason that subsequently she was confounded and identified with several other divinities, and at length became a mystic goddess, to whom mysteries were celebrated in Samothrace6 and in Aegina.7 For being as it were the queen of all nature, we find her identified with Demeter, Rhea (Cybele or Brimo); being a huntress and the protector of youth, she is the same as Artemis (Curotrophos); and as a goddess of the moon, she is regarded as the mystic Persephone.8 She was further connected with the worship of other mystic divinities, such as the Cabeiri and Curetes,9 and also with Apollo and the Muses.10, The ground-work of the above-mentioned confusions and identifications, especially with Demeter and Persephone, is contained in the Homeric hymn to Demeter; for, according to this hymn, she was, besides Helios, the only divinity who, from her cave, observed the abduction of Persephone. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Hecate is usually depicted with a burning torch in her hand and with a dog laying at her feet, its head raised. Well send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out. She was also closely associated to the spiritual world, ghosts, and the dead. She herself too wanders about with the souls of the dead, and her approach is announced by the whining and howling of dogs.13, A number of epithets given her by the poets contain allusions to these features of the popular belief, or to her form. Interesting facts: Hestia was one of three goddesses immune to the influence of Aphrodite. A shrine to Hecate was placed at the entrances of homes or even cities, hoping to protect them from the evil spirits that roamed the world. By joining Kidadl you agree to Kidadls Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receiving marketing communications from Kidadl. Hecate was the principal goddess who had jurisdiction over enchantments and spells. She was often shown holding two torches, such as would be found beside gates, to allow her to illuminate both sides of a boundary. Her liminality came from the fact that she was the daughter of a Titan and a goddess. The name Hecate means:The Most Lovely One; Worker from Afar; Three -Headed Hound of the Moon; Influence from Afar; The One Before the Gate; Light Bringer. Parents: Perses (and Asteria) or Zeus and Asteria (a second-generation Titan) or Nyx (Night) or Aristaios or Demeter (see Theoi Hecate) The Greek goddess Hecate, or Hekate, is Greece's dark goddess of the crossroads. Performance & security by Cloudflare. As a cthonic goddess of the underworld, her rituals and rites were often associated with death and secrecy. Selenite, tiger's eye, obsidian, rhodochrosite, jet, jasper, agate, and amber are the most suited crystals for Hecate. 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. Another option was a dish of red mullet, which was usually not allowed to be given to other gods. The aspects of the goddess that had darker connotations were separated from her to create another goddess altogether in the character of Hecate. The chief Greek god, Zeus, was very fond of this Goddess and gave her a share of the earth and sea. The moon goddess and the huntress were often linked, and it is believed by some that as Greeks focused worship on the more protective aspects of Artemis they shifted her darker characteristics to Hecate. It measured 21m x 28m and was built in the Corinthian order with 8 columns on its shorter sides and 11 columns on its longer sides. 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. In sculptures from the Classical and Hellenistic periods, she looks most striking when she has three bodies and three heads, one body with three heads, or three bodies and one head. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. Etymology. Her companions are known to punish wrong doing and criminals. A goddess of crossroads, magic, poison, and the undead, Hecate was also the daughter of the Titan Perses and the nymph Asteria, according to Hesiod. This makes her the granddaughter of Phoebe and Coeus, both Titans. Hecate is a goddess of life, death, regeneration, and magic. A: In Greek mythology, Hecate was the Goddess of witchcraft and magic. Hesiod goes on to say that the goddess supports warriors, athletes, hunters, horsemen, herdsmen, shepherds, fishermen, and children. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. This is how she came to command the earth, bliss, and sea. The Goddess Hecate is supposed to be the daughter of Perses, a Titan, and Asteria, a nymph. The Lampades are people who carry torches and travel with the goddess at night. People used to believe that dogs would eat the dead if they werent buried. This grouping of the goddesses happens again in Aristophanes Frogs (1358f) when Aeschylus character calls on the goddesses. She could switch between being a Titan and a goddess in Greek mythology. Click to reveal Hecate is invoked when justice is not forthcoming from other channels. Kos, Erythrai,Samothrace, Thessaly, and Miletos also worshipped the. The darkness, the moon, and magic have been personified as Hecate in many popular and well-known works of literature and in art. Her symbols were two torches, the crossroads, and black dogs. Earlier, though, there may have been fewer gods with more complex functions. What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. Good is she also when men contend at the games, for there too the goddess is with them and profits them and to those whose business is in the grey discomfortable sea, and who pray to Hekate and the loud-crashing Earth-Shaker [Poseidon], easily the glorious goddess gives great catch, and easily she takes it away as soon as seen, if so she will. Look for her animals: snakes, dragons, cats, and especially dogs. The blessings she gave them were eventually seen as magic, while prayers were seen as incantations. As early as the 5th century BC, the image of the hekataion was the standard way of showing the goddess in sculpture. They are passionate about turning your everyday moments into memories and bringing you inspiring ideas to have fun with your family. This article incorporates text from Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) by William Smith, which is in the public domain. Hecate took pity on her, though, and brought her back to life as a dog to be her companion. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. And the dark moon is also a powerful time to cleanse you, from negative energy, negative influences or potentially harmful spirits. She is sometimes depicted as being accompanied by dogs or hounds and ghosts. She's ill at ease in cities and civilization. Euripides, on the other hand, mentions her mother isLeto. She has long been associated with witchcraft and the occult, even necromancy. Hecate was a goddess in Greek Mythology. Zorya The Slavic goddess of beauty and light took three forms corresponding to morning, evening, and midnight. However. During the Romans, many of her traits belonged to the world of the dead. As a result, the goddess of magic remained a major deity in regulating evil spirits in the Underworld. Child of Perses and Asteria, she was the only Titan to retain her control under Zeus' reign. On the other hand, Euripides says that Leto is her mother. They claim she originated in Caria, a region in southern Anatolia on the Mediterranean, and was adopted into the Greek pantheon. She was accompanied by packs of barking dogs. To learn more about other Goddesses and exciting information, keep visiting on LearningMole. One can view the doors between the worlds as being very thin during this time therefore it is a golden opportunity to show her your respect. Your IP: We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Hades was pleased with this, and Hecate was allowed to come and go as she pleased from the Underworld. Many people think that worshipping the goddess began before the Greeks, while others think it started in Thrace. 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. Nearby homes similar to 755 Hecate Dr have recently sold between $204K to $212K at an average of $190 per square foot. Hecate, goddess accepted at an early date into Greek religion but probably derived from the Carians in southwest Asia Minor.