Hecate is a goddess in Greek mythology often associated with darkness and witchcraft. They believed that by praising the goddess, the restless dead would be soothed and not deliver vengeance on the family. Another option was a dish of red mullet, which was usually not allowed to be given to other gods. The goddess was given gifts every month on the night of a new moon. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Zorya The Slavic goddess of beauty and light took three forms corresponding to morning, evening, and midnight. For even now, whenever any human on the earth seeks to regain the favor or goodwill by performing fine sacrifices according to custom, he invokes Hecate; and much honor very easily stays with that man whose prayers the goddess accepts with gladness, and she bestows happiness upon him. The conflicting origins of Hecate were only the beginning of what made this goddess so mysterious. According to a legend, Odysseus got the Trojan queen Hecuba as a captive after the defeat of Troy. According to Greek mythology when the universe first came into being the primordial gods were there, fully formed. This grouping of the goddesses happens again in Aristophanes Frogs (1358f) when Aeschylus character calls on the goddesses. It has been suggested that this arose from the use of watchdogs, particularly at night, to scare away intruders and warn their owners of danger. goddess, with the latter having a 6th-century BCE circular altar for sacrifices to be made in her honour (the earliest archaeological evidence of her worship). Advanced Magick for the 21st Century The Adeptus Course, THE MOST COMPLETE COURSE IN PRACTICAL MAGICK EVER RELEASED. 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. One sculpture depicts Hecate with a friendly dog and another with heads of a cow, dog, boar, serpent or horse. She was made to look like a goddess who could easily move from the Underworld to the real world. Euripides, on the other hand, mentions her mother isLeto. Classical scholars have differing views about where the worship of Hecate in Ancient Greece came from. Hecate was represented as single-formed, clad in a long robe, holding burning torches; in later representations she was triple-formed, with three bodies standing back-to-back, probably so that she could look in all directions at once from the crossroads. 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. Greeks likewise borrowed many deities and legends. When Persephone was abducted to the underworld by Hades, Hecate was the only witness willing to help Demeter search for her daughter. Kidadl is supported by you, the reader. Hesiod claimed that Hecate was a favorite of Zeus . 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. One of her epithets, Apotropaia, references the protection she gave in these spaces. Hecate (also spelt Hekate) is a goddess capable of both good and evil. Esoteric writing from this time says that Hecate has the heads of a horse, a dog, and a snake. The dog connection may be the fact that dogs were known to eat the dead if left unburied; they also howl at the moon, of course. Roman poets encouraged the idea that Hecate was three different things by calling her Hecate-Selene and other similar names. In the Pharsalia, the witch Erichtho calls on Persephone as the lowest part of Hecate. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published. Hecate has the power to grant or deny any mortals wish. ThoughtCo, Dec. 6, 2021, thoughtco.com/greek-mythology-hecate-1526205. Names derived from hers were common, including Hecatomnus, the father of the ruler Mausolus who built the famous tomb. Kos, Erythrai,Samothrace, Thessaly, and Miletos also worshipped the. 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. There is a belief, therefore, that the three goddesses may be aspects of a singular, earlier deity. She may be invoked for protection for dogs and from dogs. One of these was the supper of Hecate, where food was left at crossroads, road junctions, and any other kind of boundary or threshold. The Moirai crossed their arms and Eileithyia refused to help the laboring woman. Lastly, the goddess is mentioned in the tragedies of Euripides and Sophocles, among others. Quite often warriors worshipped the goddess Hecate just as readily. Some speculate that it represents the full moon, half moon, and new moon. Lagina was one of the most important Carian sanctuaries.Hecate also has a strong connection with Georgia as well as throughout Italy. Victorian Era, Ibn Khaldun or Celts. She is sometimes depicted as being accompanied by dogs or hounds and ghosts. Due to her dark attributes, this deity has often been associated with the Underworld. 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. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. By the 2nd century AD, a story had developed around Galinthias, a daughter of Proteus and friend of Alcmene. Some of the statues she made as offerings to the goddess had the Graces dancing around her. This could mean that the goddess didnt come to Greece from Caria until a relatively late date. The Moirai, or Fates, were one such trio of goddesses. Of course, as the goddess of boundaries she had the power to let things in as well as keep them out. A competing theory says that Hecate did not develop in Greece at all. She is invoked for justice, especially for sexual crimes against women and girls. Due to her magical powers, Hecate was believed to protect children, sailors, and shepherds. The best of the LearningMole geography tutorials. The crossroads are special places, places of great power, but at the same time haunting places. This was a group started by May Otis Blackburn in Los Angeles, California. Moving between the barrier between life and death explains Hecates connection to both ghosts and necromancy. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The beginnings of Hecates worship are shrouded in mystery. These took the form of small cakes of eggs, cheese, bread, and dog meat, which were lit with miniature torches or, alternatively, a dish of red mullet, which was usually prohibited from offerings to the other gods. She is also said to be the Goddess of childbirth and the protector of children. $204,000 Last Sold Price. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. 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 has been referenced in various literary works, including the plays by Sophocles and Euripides. Study medicinal and magical herbalism and become one of Hecate's priestesses. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents. She was the only child of the Titanes Perses and Asteria from whom she received her power over heaven, earth, and sea. Learning Mole focuses on educating children of all ages in key skills of Maths, English and learning through crafts. Hecate was also offered the sacrifice of dogs, especially puppies. Hecate was a goddess in Greek Mythology. Many of the traditional offerings to Hecate- are: milk, honey, oil, cakes, cheese, bloody meat, eggs, onions, garlic. Her liminality came from the fact that she was the daughter of a Titan and a goddess. Home History Great Facts about Goddess Hecate. This is how she came to command the earth, bliss, and sea. She was also the goddess of the Oikos and the guardian of its entrances. Some poets say her mother is Crataeis. Over time, some of the Olympians changed form and function. She thus becomes a deity of the lower world; but this notion does not occur till the time of the Greek tragedians, though it is generally current among the later writers. Hecate was variously associated with crossroads, entrance-ways, dogs, light, the moon, magic, witchcraft, knowledge of herbs and poisonous plants, ghosts, necromancy, and sorcery. This makes her the granddaughter of Phoebe and Coeus, both Titans. The keys that she is sometimes shown holding are supposed to be the keys of the Underworld. A mysterious divinity, who, according to the most common tradition, was a daughter of Persaeus or Perses and Asteria, whence she is called Perseis.1 Others describe her as a daughter of Zeus and Demeter, and state that she was sent out by her father in search of Persephone;2 others again make her a daughter of Zeus either by Pheraea or by Hera;3 and others, lastly, say that she was a daughter of Leto or Tartarus.4 Homer does not mention her. 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. In Ancient Greece, this Goddess was honored in most homes as she was considered to bring prosperity. If you are interested in effective unique protection magickCLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE! She was both a product of the Titans and an honored member of Zeuss court at Olympus. Her tasks went beyond the heavens, the earth, the seas, and the Underworld. She is also Queen of the Night, and is highly connected to All Hallow's Eve. Seneca often talks about Hecate and her moon-based counterparts and even links Medea to the goddess. Link will appear as Hecate: https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net - Greek Gods & Goddesses, October 19, 2019, Greek Gods and Goddesses 2010 - 2023 | About | Contact | Sitemap | Privacy, Hecate: https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net, Magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy, None, however in some myths there are various potential offspring mentioned - (Aegialeus, Circe, Empusa, Medea, Scylla). Nearby homes similar to 755 Hecate Dr have recently sold between $204K to $212K at an average of $190 per square foot. With a torch in her hand, she accompanied Demeter in the search after Persephone; and when the latter was found, Hecate remained with her as her attendant and companion. 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. Archaeological items found in Lagina in Caria and Phrygia also point to the importance of this Goddess during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Hecate was also known as the queen or Goddess of the night. This could be because she sided with him during the 10-year battle between the Titans and the Olympians. "Hecate: Greece's Dark Goddess of the Crossroads." Regula, deTraci. 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. The myth says that Zeus gave the Lampades to Hera as a reward for her loyalty during the Titanomachy. Many of the rituals described in ancient texts, for example the elaborate sacrifice of a ewe in Argonautica, are in keeping with what is known about the worship of other deities of the underworld. Hecate was both Greek and foreign at the same time. Hecate first appears in Hesiods Theogony, written in the 7th century BCE. 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. According to them, Hecate is known to support bravery and hence encourage soldiers, warriors, athletes, etc. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. You may like to light incense such as the smoke of wormwood, cypress and lavender in these offerings. Follow for more great fun learning. Hecate was also linked to a lot of other goddesses from other pantheons. While Hecate was described as a single goddess with three parts, the tripartite goddess in other instances was shown as three separate but intrinsically-linked beings. Her priests are normally accompanied by hell hounds sent by their goddess to guard her temples. Proponents of this theory believe that this may have been the case with Hecate. To find out more about LearningMole please visit our about us page or visit more of our topics available. Was the Griffin a Bird from Greek Mythology? In the Greco-Roman world, the crossroads were places of spirits, doorways to the other world(s), places of magic, spells and necromancy and also places of purification. Dogs also howl at the Moon, so this could be a link. My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) 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. She was also associated with some of the most revered and respected goddesses of Olympus. The name "Hecate" (Greek , translit. Who is Hecate? Her parentage was given differently by various writers. In Late Antiquity, the empousai have been described as a category of phantoms or spectres, equated with the lamiai and mormolykeia . Hecate became Persephones guardian and close friend while she was living in the Underworld. But by the end of the ancient world, this image had changed into a single goddess with three heads. She has also been mentioned in the works of Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, King Lear, and Macbeth. The Charites (Graces) and Horai (Seasons) were also trios of minor goddesses in Greek mythology. This was a terrible fate. Still another school of thought links her, at least linguistically, to Egypt. The Greek goddess Hecate, or Hekate, is Greece's dark goddess of the crossroads. Hecate acted as a veil between the world of the mortals and the supernatural. The name Hecate comes from the Greek word "Hekatos," which was thought to be a really distant and obscure epithet associated with Apollo, the Greek god of music . A mysterious goddess of sorcery, necromancy, and ghosts, Greek Goddess Hecate is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing characters in all of Greek mythology! I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a28cb13cce875e3 She was known by her Roman name, Trivia, as well as by her triple form. She is also associated with the moon and is sometimes depicted as having three faces which symbolize the waxing, waning, and full moon phases. The ancient Greeks thought of her as a Greek goddess, not someone from another country. She is not a typical one-dimensional goddess but lives on many different levels. You may request to banish harm from you and to protect you and your loved ones. Instead, some believe that the goddess originated in Asia Minor. She was most famously the goddess of magic, witchcraft, ghosts, necromancy, the Moon, and the night. Quite often each face is different, one of a dog, one of a horse and one of a goddess. Hecate hkt, hkt , in Greek religion and mythology, goddess of ghosts and witchcraft. When they heard this the Moirai uncrossed their arms, releasing the bonds that kept the infant Heracles from the earth. On Greek pottery, she is usually shown as a young woman holding a torch or a key. All Rights Reserved, Ancient Egyptians The First Woman Pharaoh, A Crunchy Pistachios Tale: 13 Interesting Facts About These Salty Munchies. 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. Hecate, however, was not just a goddess shown in three parts. Even in her origin, Hecate moved between two places. Hecate, however, is routinely described as the goddess of witchcraft and associated with characters like Medea and Circe, the witch of Homers Odyssey. In single form she appears on Greek vases and coins. Hesiod only talks about her family and how she killed Clytius in the Gigantomachy. The first literary reference to Hecate was in the Theogony, a Greek poem by Hesiod that is believed to have been written in 700 BCE. In later times, the most common way to show Hecate in art is as a three-headed goddess with each head facing a different direction at a crossroads. Many historians believe that the Greek pantheon was once much smaller than we know it today. The worship of Hecate continued into theHellenisticandRomanperiods with significant archaeological finds of votive offerings to the goddess being found at Lagina in Caria andPhrygia. The offerings to the goddess were made each month during the night of a new moon. In aiding Demeter during her search for the missing Persephone and transfiguring Hecuba to spare her captivity or death she showed a level of compassion that might not be expected from an occult figure. Hecate has been depicted in Greek art, literature, and pottery dating from the fifth century BCE. Hecate was an only child and was worshiped in households of Athens where families hoped to receive protection, prosperity and daily blessings. Your privacy is important to us. "Worker-from-afar." This article incorporates text from Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) by William Smith, which is in the public domain. She rules wisdom, choices, expiation, victory, vengeance, and travel. 139.162.195.99 Her companions are known to punish wrong doing and criminals. In Aeschylus Suppliants, for example, they were often mixed up to make a goddess with two faces. Picture of the Greek Underworld, the residence of Hecate. Nearby Recently Sold Homes. Hecate can banishghosts(or produce a ghost infestation). Intrinsically ambivalent and polymorphous, she straddles conventional boundaries and eludes definition. Her name was derived from the Greek word hekatos which means worker from afar. Hecate or Hekate [a] is a goddess in ancient Greek religion and mythology, most often shown holding a pair of torches, a key, snakes, or accompanied by dogs, [1] and in later periods depicted as three-formed or triple-bodied. Hecate: Greece's Dark Goddess of the Crossroads. According to her story, Hecate sometimes withheld these blessings if she felt mortals did not deserve them. 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. Share This Post. The facts about Hecate provides a list detailing fascinating additional info to increase your knowledge about Hecate in Greek Mythology. Hecate is a goddess of life, death, regeneration, and magic. It is unclear why this change took place. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. Performing a protection rite on yourself and use of amulet is always encouraged as well. Further, the home would be blessed and any wrong-doing by family members would be forgiven and the household purified. The witches were telling Macbeth about his future and had not consulted the Goddess and had left her out of the meeting. She was accepted at an early date into Greek religion, but she probably was originally a goddess of the Carians in southwestern Asia Minor. As worshippers began to focus on one aspect of a god more than others, that gods secondary purposes were separated into another deity altogether. Hecate is usually depicted with a burning torch in her hand and with a dog laying at her feet, its head raised. Sources say there was a sacred garden dedicated to Hecate at her temple in Colchis (modern day Georgia). 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. Hectate is derived from the Greek word 'hekatos,' which 'means worker from afar.' A few pagans and Wiccans have also been known to worship Hecate as a dark goddess. She convinced her daughter Eiliethyia, the goddess of childbirth, and the Moirai, the Fates, to prevent the birth. Witches do gather together or solitary on crossroads as do magicians , hoodoo and voudan practitioners to cast their enchantments and spells.