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According to Hesiods Theogony, the Titans were the first Greek gods born of earth and the heavens. Hecate was the goddess of borders, barriers, and boundaries. The myth says that Zeus gave the Lampades to Hera as a reward for her loyalty during the Titanomachy. As was already said, the dog was Hecates most holy animal. Hecate, however, is routinely described as the goddess of witchcraft and associated with characters like Medea and Circe, the witch of Homers Odyssey. According to the Greek writer Hesiod*, Hecate was the daughter of the Titan* Perses and the nymph Asteria. By the first century CE, Lucans Pharsalia made it clear that Hecate was the goddess of magic and witchcraft. Hecate. In the writings of Hesiod, Hecate is the daughter of the Titan Perses and the nymph Asteria. As an Amazon Associate, Kidadl earns from qualifying purchases. 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. Hecate (also spelt Hekate) is a goddess capable of both good and evil. She is capable of both good and evil and is most often associated with magic and witchcraft. Hecate's powers transcended the boundaries of the sky, the earth, the seas, and the underworld. A popular story among the Greeks was that the dog that accompanied Hecate was the Trojan queen Hecuba. "Hecate: Greece's Dark Goddess of the Crossroads." This was a group started by May Otis Blackburn in Los Angeles, California. Several modern devotees already adapted the tradition of giving food offerings to Hekate- these are sacred meals, that are bought on the dark moon ( This is the last visible crescent of a waningMoon. Hecate is usually depicted with a burning torch in her hand and with a dog laying at her feet, its head raised. Moving between the barrier between life and death explains Hecates connection to both ghosts and necromancy. Another option was a dish of red mullet, which was usually not allowed to be given to other gods. This is especially ironic since, after this, she seems to have become more associated with the underworld, not less. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. 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. Please like and share this article if you found it useful. In addition to magic and witchcraft, Hecate was also considered to be the Goddess of crossroads, gates, and ghosts. Hecate was the principal goddess who had jurisdiction over enchantments and spells. However, she is believed to be protective of human beings. 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. The crossroads were and are also places where several accidents occurred and or ambushes, holdups they can be places of vulnerability where fates seem to be on rare occasions sealed. The cave and the dawn are both thresholds- liminal times, thresholds between the earth and the underworld and night and day. The goddess, on the other hand, usually has human heads. Some nymphs in Greek mythology were famous, but others were only known in a certain time Echidna: Greek Mythologys Mother of Monsters, Lamia: The Child-Eating Monster of Greek Legend. 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. A mysterious goddess of sorcery, necromancy, and ghosts, Greek Goddess Hecate is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing characters in all of Greek mythology! 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. Though perhaps originally an indigenous woodland goddess, Diana early became identified with Artemis. A case in point is the Greek goddess Hecate. 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. One of her epithets, Apotropaia, references the protection she gave in these spaces. The Greek name of Hecate may derive from an earlier Egyptian frog-headed goddess called Heqet, who ruled over magic and fertility and was a favorite of women. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content. . "Hecate: Greece's Dark Goddess of the Crossroads." Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. As you may already know Hecateis a goddess ofGreek mythologywho was capable of both good and evil. The duration ofa dark moonvaries between 1.5 and 3.5 days) to the crossroads. Hecate was an only child and was worshiped in households of Athens where families hoped to receive protection, prosperity and daily blessings. HEKATE (Hecate) was the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy. Hecate is petitioned for fertility, especially for female children. Home History Great Facts about Goddess Hecate. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The people of Sparta claimed that Ares had been nursed by a nymph called Thero. 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. Hecate was a goddess in Greek Mythology. The goddess was especially appealed to by sorceresses for aid in their magic and spellsand appears on surviving examples of curse tablets. Why notsubscribe to our LearningMole Library for as little as 1.99 per month to access over1000fun educational videos. 1.5 Baths. Parents: Perses (and Asteria) or Zeus and Asteria (a second-generation Titan) or Nyx (Night) or Aristaios or Demeter (see Theoi Hecate) The Goddess Hecate is supposed to be the daughter of Perses, a Titan, and Asteria, a nymph. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. Scholars think that the goddess arrived in Greece during the Archaic period. 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). Persephone was married to Hades and was the queen of the Underworld. The name "Hecate" (Greek , translit. Hecate may be invoked for healing, especially if medical solutions have failed or are not an option. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon. A: In Greek mythology, Hecate was the Goddess of witchcraft and magic. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Eleusis was in Greece, which is where it is now. Hecate was a complex, ancient goddess known to the Greeks but originally worshiped by people of Asia Minor*. Greeks likewise borrowed many deities and legends. 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. The facts about Hecate provides a list detailing fascinating additional info to increase your knowledge about Hecate in Greek Mythology. Lagina was one of the most important Carian sanctuaries.Hecate also has a strong connection with Georgia as well as throughout Italy. In Greece, there is some evidence that Hecate was originally seen as a much more benevolent, cosmic goddess. Some of the statues she made as offerings to the goddess had the Graces dancing around her. Hecate is the goddess of witchcraft and was specifically known for her herbal knowledge. The boundaries she oversaw were not limited to the physical world, though. In literature, there is a clear link between her, Demeter, and Persephone. 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. The goddess told Demeter everything she had heard, but Demeter didnt know who had taken her daughter. Regula, deTraci. 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. HEKATE (Hecate) was the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy. Hecate is known to rule over the sky, the earth, and the sea. Her priests are normally accompanied by hell hounds sent by their goddess to guard her temples. Advanced Magick for the 21st Century The Adeptus Course, THE MOST COMPLETE COURSE IN PRACTICAL MAGICK EVER RELEASED. Hectate has neither spouse nor children. "Worker-from-afar." One sculpture depicts Hecate with a friendly dog and another with heads of a cow, dog, boar, serpent or horse. Some later stories agreed that Asteria was her mother, but claimed Zeus had been her father. When Persephone was abducted to the underworld by Hades, Hecate was the only witness willing to help Demeter search for her daughter. 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. As a fertility deity she was invoked by women to aid conception and delivery. Trade, colonization, and migration resulted in a great deal of cultural exchange between the two regions. Such triple goddesses were common in ancient religions. 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. When Alcmene was in labor with Heracles, Hera attempted to stop the childs birth. 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. In revenge for the trick, Eileithyia turned Galinthias into a polecat. Numerous smaller sculptures of Hecate remain in which the goddess appears as three separate women, wearing chitons, with the backs pressed against a pillar. She could not undo the curse, but she made the polecat her sacred servant. Before that, she was just a minor character in the stories of Demeter (Persephones maid) and Artemis. Hecate is defined by her powerful magic, being at ease with the night and darkness and in wild surroundings. Long before Hesiod and Homer began writing their poetry, the stories of the gods were passed on through oral tradition. Meanwhile, others believe she is the progeny of Hecate and Phorcys. We offer advice and practical, interactive ideas to help parents challenge, teach and develop their childrens skills at home. Writings throughout the centuries have woven different tales about Hecate and her role as a goddess. She appears in Ovid's Metamorphoses. Hecate took pity on her, though, and brought her back to life as a dog to be her companion. SOLD JUN 15, 2022. The first sculpture of Hecate in triple form was the (lost) statue by Alcamenes (fifth century BCE) at the Acropolis. If lost at a crossroads, literal or metaphoric, invoke her name and then pay attention to signs from her. 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 . Hecate was considered an ancient Thracian divinity and she was also a titan; the titans ruled the heavens, the earth and the sea. The goddess was given gifts every month on the night of a new moon. 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. Authors from the past, like Ovid and Pausanias, say that dogs, especially black dogs, were given to the goddess as sacrifices. The goddess Hecate is one of the lesser-known goddesses of the Greek pantheon. 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. She is also known as Soteria (Savior), the Mother of Angels, and the Cosmic World. However, the queen killed the Thracian king when on her way to Greece. She has long been associated with witchcraft and the occult, even necromancy. Her name is akin to the Latin words dium ("sky") and dius ("daylight"). Hecate was also known as the queen or Goddess of the night. Further, the home would be blessed and any wrong-doing by family members would be forgiven and the household purified. In fact, the earliest depictions of Hecate can only be differentiated from those of Artemis by inscriptions. The one in Lagina stood out the most. EFFECTIVE MAGICK AND ALPHA STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS, Seventh Phoenix MY Amazing STORY,My Journey, REAL LIFE Curses That STUNNED THEIR VICTIMS, HOW THE ALPHA FREQUENCY POWER-CHARGES YOUR MAGICK, Protection Magick Mastery Course #1 Best Rated. A competing theory says that Hecate did not develop in Greece at all. Another story said that Hecate herself had cursed a witch named Gale to be a polecat for disgusting her with incontinence and abnormal desires. She acted as a sort of guardian because she watched over the places that allowed passage into homes, cities, or even states. 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. One of these was the boundary between life and death. Anatolia, which covered most of what is now Turkey, was a region that had close ties to the Greek world. By joining Kidadl you agree to Kidadls Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receiving marketing communications from Kidadl. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Some myths suggest that Zeus and Hera were the parents of this Goddess, and that is how she came to control the heavens and the earth. She may be invoked for protection for dogs and from dogs. In ancient times the crossroads didnt have our modern symbolism as a place of choices. In Ancient Greek religion, Hecate had a wide range of godly tasks. Follow for more great fun learning. Hecate could give her worshipers wealth and blessings, but she could also take them away if they didnt worship her well enough. Sources say there was a sacred garden dedicated to Hecate at her temple in Colchis (modern day Georgia). As she is said to be the guardian of the crossroads, she is most often depicted with three faces and carrying torches or a key. Due to her dark attributes, this deity has often been associated with the Underworld. She is often displayed holding two torches or a key. SOLD JUN 14, 2022. The goddess Hecate is one of the Greek goddesses that not many people know about. Over time, some of the Olympians changed form and function. Her companions are theFuries(Erinyes), the winged creatures who punished wrong-doing, and her children are the Empusae, female demons partial to seducing travellers. Hecate is a goddess of life, death, regeneration, and magic. She was the daughter of Perses and Asteria. To the Greeks this meant not only the moment at which the soul crossed between those to states, but also to a literal place. IT WAS A COMMON PRACTICE TO PLACE IMAGES OF HECATE ATCITYGATES & THE DOORWAYS OF PRIVATE HOMES AS SHE COULD WARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS. And all these views if we go back in time can also be found in the Greco-Roman world. Child of Perses and Asteria, she was the only Titan to retain her control under Zeus' reign. THE MOST COMPLETE COURSE IN PRACTICAL MAGICK EVER RELEA Advanced Magick for the 21st Century The Adeptu 3 Special gods of old Briton You should revisit! Thus, pillars called Hecataea stood at crossroads and doorways, perhaps to keep away evil spirits. When they heard this the Moirai uncrossed their arms, releasing the bonds that kept the infant Heracles from the earth. 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. People used to believe that dogs would eat the dead if they werent buried. A further canine connection may be with theEgyptiangodAnubiswho guided souls to the underworld, and the Greek three-headed hound ofHades, Cerberus, may be an earlier form of Hecate. Her name was derived from the Greek word hekatos which means "worker from afar". Her parentage was given differently by various writers. This is shown in Act III, scene five of the play. Regula, deTraci. 170 BCE). She was the daughter of the Titan Perses and the nymph Asteria. Archaeologists have found essential offerings to the goddess at Lagina in Caria and Phrygia. Hecate doesnt often appear in Greek art and writing until the 5th century BCE. The Greeks, too, had many different theories about Hecates origins. She is also said to be the Goddess of childbirth and the protector of children. Modern neopagan and Wiccan religions often include worship of a triple goddess, and of Hecate herself. There is a belief, therefore, that the three goddesses may be aspects of a singular, earlier deity. Hecate also presided over more mystical boundaries. Seneca often talks about Hecate and her moon-based counterparts and even links Medea to the goddess. Her companions are known to punish wrong doing and criminals. A: In Greek Mythology, Hecate was the Goddess of magic and witchcraft. She was connected to occult practices such as witchcraft and magic, the Moon, gateways, and nocturnal beasts such as hellhounds and ghosts. Subscribe to our popular newsletter Synced Global AI Weekly to get weekly AI updates. She witnessed the abduction of Demeter's daughter Persephone to the underworld and, torch in hand, assisted in the search for her. Hecate, goddess accepted at an early date into Greek religion but probably derived from the Carians in southwest Asia Minor. 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. She witnessed the abduction of Demeters daughter Persephone to the underworld and, torch in hand, assisted in the search for her. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Posted by 7thphoenix | May 27, 2020 | Magick Articles | 0 |. There are many other interesting facts about Hecate as pointed out by philosophers and researchers. My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) 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 . Euripides, on the other hand, mentions her mother isLeto. 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. Hecate was weaved strongly into all these symbolisms of the crossroads and still does to her devotees. 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. She was a goddess that could be both a protective guardian and a source of menace. Because of this, some people would make sacrifices of dogs, especially puppies, to her. At least one story, however, gives the goddess a much more human origin. While Hecates temples in the area are from a later period, she bears a resemblance to a more ancient goddess in Caria. The goddess Hecate had unusual rituals performed in her honour, which include the offerings of food given at crossroads, road junctions, and any other sort of boundary or threshold known as the supper of Hecate. In 1929, an expert in religious cults noted that the Blackburn Cult or The Cult of the Great Eleven that was formed in the '20s was connected with Hecate worship and rituals. 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). Offerings to this Goddess were also made during the night of the new moon. Of course, as with many stories of Hecate there was also a darker version. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! Scylla's most retold appearance is in Homer's Odyssey. It is believed that Hecate represented witchcraft, magic and ghosts. Hecate's appearance is dark-haired and beautiful, but with an eerie edge to that beauty befitting a goddess of the night (though the actual goddess of the night is Nyx). In the Greek religion, strange rituals were done to honour the goddess. 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. This article contains incorrect information, This article doesnt have the information Im looking for. The darkness, the moon, and magic have been personified as Hecate in many popular and well-known works of literature and in art. In fact, Hecate might have been another goddess altogether! A: The three witches in the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare made Hecate angry by meeting and predicting the future of the main character, Macbeth, without consulting her. She is sometimes depicted as being accompanied by dogs or hounds and ghosts. They are associated with certain ideas, occupations, or stages of life. The most popular theory is that the Carians in Asia Minor brought Hecate to Greece, where she became a part of their religion. She is sometimes shown holding a key. She held several different roles, including earth goddess, queen of the underworld, and goddess of magic and witchcraft.. Some poets say her mother is Crataeis. There are few legends about Her, and no fixed genealogy. 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. She could not be forced to love anyone. As a protective goddess, it was common for statuettes of Hecate to be placed in the doorways of homes in Greece in the hopes that she would intervene to prevent bad fortune from passing in. Greek pantheon was once much smaller than we know. 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. This was all about Hecate, a goddess in ancient Greek religion. As a result, the goddess of magic remained a major deity in regulating evil spirits in the Underworld. Pausanias, a Greek traveller who lived in the second century CE, said that the goddess had a mystery cult on the island of Aegina, where people with mental illness thought they could be cured. Some say that Hecate is the daughter of Erebus and Nyx, ageless Goddess of the night, while others believe that She is one of the Furies or the last surviving Titan except for Zeus. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. This makes her the granddaughter of Phoebe and Coeus, both Titans. This could be because she sided with him during the 10-year battle between the Titans and the Olympians. On her head she sometimes wears a kalathos, a tall wicker basket, or a moon sickle. She was often placed at the entrance of homes to help protect against the evil forces of the world. Hecate acted as a veil between the world of the mortals and the supernatural. This food offering was known as the Supper of Hecate. We know you don't want to miss any news or research breakthroughs. Much later, Shakespeare referenced her in Macbeth, where she is mentioned in the scene of the three witches boiling together their dire brew. Lastly, the goddess is mentioned in the tragedies of Euripides and Sophocles, among others. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. During the Romans, many of her traits belonged to the world of the dead. The Hades and Persephone Story. Hecate is also sometimes interpreted in association with Artemis and Selene. Many of the traditional offerings to Hecate- are: milk, honey, oil, cakes, cheese, bloody meat, eggs, onions, garlic. This garden would've contained her sacred trees, herbs and poisons. Due to her magical powers, Hecate was believed to protect children, sailors, and shepherds. Regula, deTraci. She was the only child of the Titanes Perses and Asteria from whom she received her power over heaven, earth, and sea. 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). Hecate has the power to grant or deny any mortals wish. According to Greek mythology when the universe first came into being the primordial gods were there, fully formed. To learn more about other Goddesses and exciting information, keep visiting on LearningMole. According toPausanias, the 2nd-century CE Greek traveller, the island ofAeginahad a mystery cult dedicated to the goddess where it was believed those suffering mental illness could be cured. What Were the Hamadryads in Greek Mythology? Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a28cb13cce875e3 Hekate assisted Demeter in her search for Persephone, guiding her through the night with flaming torches. Although Hecate found Persephone, instead of rescuing her, she helped her settle into her new life as the bride of Hades. You may request to banish harm from you and to protect you and your loved ones. Read on to find out more about Greeces most mystical goddess! Seeing her friend in pain, Galinthias tricked the Moirai into thinking the child had been born despite their interference. Even in her origin, Hecate moved between two places. 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. 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. While Hera was considered a singular being, she was given three names to represent her different stages in life maiden, wife, and mother. In Aeschylus Suppliants, for example, they were often mixed up to make a goddess with two faces. It is believed that Zeus, the king of the gods, asked Hecate to help find Persephone after Hades kidnapped her. These statues took on a distinctive appearance. 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. Hecate is a Goddess shrouded in mystery, for there is continuing debate about Her name, origin and character. Hecate was believed to be a goddess of both the living world and the underworld. 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.