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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. This myth led to goddess Hecate being depicted with torches in her hand. 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. We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. From lino cutting to surfing to childrens mental health, their hobbies and interests range far and wide. Modern neopagan and Wiccan religions often include worship of a triple goddess, and of Hecate herself. Her name was derived from the Greek word hekatos which means worker from afar. Hecate is a goddess of life, death, regeneration, and magic. Hecate Triodos is the specific aspect presiding over crossroads. The Goddess Hecate is supposed to be the daughter of Perses, a Titan, and Asteria, a nymph. The Matres While little is known of their exact function, over 1,000 images of the three goddesses have been found in Northwestern Europe. It is unclear why this change took place. 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. 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. Many people think that worshipping the goddess began before the Greeks, while others think it started in Thrace. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, The Greeks likewise borrowed many deities and legends from their eastern neighbors. On the Pergamon Altar of Zeus, from the 2nd century BCE, a three-headed Hecate and a dog attack a snake-like giant. She guides Sibyl through the Underworld in Virgils Aeneid. In fact she seems to have started out as Heket, the Egyptian Goddess of Childbirth. 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. HEKATE (Hecate) was the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy. One of these was the boundary between life and death. Hesiod goes on to say that the goddess supports warriors, athletes, hunters, horsemen, herdsmen, shepherds, fishermen, and children. Hecate hkt, hkt , in Greek religion and mythology, goddess of ghosts and witchcraft. The goddess Hecate is one of the Greek goddesses that not many people know about. 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. The crossroads are special places, places of great power, but at the same time haunting places. Mike Greenberg, PhD. And all these views if we go back in time can also be found in the Greco-Roman world. It is believed that Hecate represented witchcraft, magic and ghosts. They are sometimes represented with the familiar aspects of the maiden, mother, and crone. Major temple shrines to Hecate were in the regions of Phrygia and Caria. She has long been associated with witchcraft and the occult, even necromancy. She is often displayed holding two torches or a key. 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). The facts about Hecate provides a list detailing fascinating additional info to increase your knowledge about Hecate in Greek Mythology. At least one story, however, gives the goddess a much more human origin. Her halos are usually made of moonbeams. This is shown in Act III, scene five of the play. As you may already know Hecateis a goddess ofGreek mythologywho was capable of both good and evil. Those who failed to win the goddesss favor could expect her to invite evil and misfortune into their lives. The Hades and Persephone Story. The chief Greek god, Zeus, was very fond of this Goddess and gave her a share of the earth and sea. 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. Greeks focused worship on the more protective aspects of Artemis, goddess that existed on the edges of the Greek, The Norns These three goddesses were the Norse equivalent of the Moirai. There is a belief, therefore, that the three goddesses may be aspects of a singular, earlier deity. Before that, she was just a minor character in the stories of Demeter (Persephones maid) and Artemis. Hesiod, for example, seemed to hold in in high regard and makes no mention of this darker association. Hekat) is the feminine form of hekatos, an epithet of the god Apollo meaning "the one who works from afar."But the true etymology of the name is uncertain. Many Anatolian gods had their roots in the Greek pantheon. According to a legend, Odysseus got the Trojan queen Hecuba as a captive after the defeat of Troy. Her name has been connected to dark magic and disturbing rituals in the works of Shakespeare and well into modern times. The boundaries she oversaw were not limited to the physical world, though. The goddess had a lot of powers, some of which were later taken over by other gods. In single form she appears on Greek vases and coins. Female monsters also often came in threes, as was the case with the Gorgons and Graea. She is good in the byre with Hermes to increase the stock. Hecate is a goddess of life, death, regeneration, and magic. A: This Greek Goddess is often considered to be capable of both good and evil. The necromancers not only conjured the spirits of the dead on nightly cemeteries but also on the crossroads, the leftovers from spells are buried on the crossroads in many magical traditions and in many religions it is believed that the spirits are lingering on the crossroads. The triple goddesses are often referred to as the Maiden, Mother (or Matron), and Crone. 1.5 Baths. Hecate was the chief goddess presiding over magic and spells. The goddess was given gifts every month on the night of a new moon. This was a group started by May Otis Blackburn in Los Angeles, California. Quite often each face is different, one of a dog, one of a horse and one of a goddess. Greece itself worshipped many trios of goddesses or goddesses with three forms that fit this archetype. All Rights Reserved, Ancient Egyptians The First Woman Pharaoh, A Crunchy Pistachios Tale: 13 Interesting Facts About These Salty Munchies. HEKATE (Hecate) was the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy. 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. Follow for more great fun learning. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. The beginnings of Hecates worship are shrouded in mystery. 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. She was the daughter of the Titan Perses and the nymph Asteria. She rules wisdom, choices, expiation, victory, vengeance, and travel. This article was most recently revised and updated by, From Athena to Zeus: Basics of Greek Mythology, Ancient Origins - Hecate: Triple-Bodied Greek Goddess of Witchcraft and Keeper of Keys, Hecate - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). 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. 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. Her symbols were two torches, the crossroads, and black dogs. Her association with dark magic is also tied to her identification as an underworld goddess. Asteria may be the original goddess associated with the Asterion mountain range on the island of Crete. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. the Jinn or Genie-good, bad or simply Goetic spirits of another name? Hecate is petitioned for fertility, especially for female children. They thought she would protect them and keep away evil spirits. 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. The Kidadl Team is made up of people from different walks of life, from different families and backgrounds, each with unique experiences and nuggets of wisdom to share with you. Hesiod only talks about her family and how she killed Clytius in the Gigantomachy. Omissions? Lycophron, 77; Scholiast on Aristophanes'. However, the queen killed the Thracian king when on her way to Greece. We know you don't want to miss any news or research breakthroughs. Thus, pillars called Hecataea stood at crossroads and doorways, perhaps to keep away evil spirits. Ft. 1302 Covington Ct, Virginia Beach, VA 23453. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. 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. The Greeks, too, had many different theories about Hecates origins. According to them, Hecate is known to support bravery and hence encourage soldiers, warriors, athletes, etc. Regula, deTraci. 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. According to Hesiods Theogony, the Titans were the first Greek gods born of earth and the heavens. She is sometimes depicted as being accompanied by dogs or hounds and ghosts. Hecate: [noun] a Greek goddess associated especially with the underworld, night, and witchcraft. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Symbols of Hecate are her place, the crossroads, two torches, and black dogs. She may be petitioned for a swift, painless death. She has also been mentioned in the works of Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, King Lear, and Macbeth. A statue called Hekate Epipyrgidia (On the Ramparts) stood at the Athens Acropolis entrance. She was known by her Roman name, Trivia, as well as by her triple form. The Goddess Hecate is supposed to be the daughter of Perses, a Titan, and Asteria, a nymph. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/greek-mythology-hecate-1526205. She appears in Ovid's Metamorphoses. In this manner, pillars known as Hecate stood at key intersections and entryways, possibly to ward off malevolent spirits. Historian Robert Graves notes that the heads could be distinctive of a dog, lion and horse, representing the constellations which cover the calendar year. Read on to find out more about Greeces most mystical goddess! As punishment, she was transformed into a dog to be the companion of Hecate. Some scholars of ancient Greek religion have noted that Apollo was occasionally given the name Hecatos, which they interpret to mean one who reaches far. These academics believe that Hecate, therefore, may have once been another name for Apollos twin sister, Artemis. In a few cases, Hecate was said to have shared these powers with her most devoted followers. First you can set down the offerings to Hekate on the crossroad, just be sure to choose a less travelled crossroads free of heavy traffic for your safety. Hecate, however, is routinely described as the goddess of witchcraft and associated with characters like Medea and Circe, the witch of Homers Odyssey. Check your inbox for your latest news from us. Due to her dark attributes, this deity has often been associated with the Underworld. Her companions are known to punish wrong doing and criminals. In the Pharsalia, the witch Erichtho calls on Persephone as the lowest part of Hecate. Interesting facts: Hestia was one of three goddesses immune to the influence of Aphrodite. She was also associated with some of the most revered and respected goddesses of Olympus. 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 Aeschylus Suppliants, for example, they were often mixed up to make a goddess with two faces. Another story said that Hecate herself had cursed a witch named Gale to be a polecat for disgusting her with incontinence and abnormal desires. Esoteric writing from this time says that Hecate has the heads of a horse, a dog, and a snake. This food offering was known as the Supper of Hecate. There are cult sites for the goddess Hecate in Caria, which shows that people there worshipped her. She was both a product of the Titans and an honored member of Zeuss court at Olympus. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published. We offer advice and practical, interactive ideas to help parents challenge, teach and develop their childrens skills at home. Nearby Recently Sold Homes. Regula, deTraci. The food offered to this deity included cheese, cakes of eggs, and a dish of red mullet. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Hecate is often depicted with three heads as she was called the Goddess of the Crossroads. Moving between the barrier between life and death explains Hecates connection to both ghosts and necromancy. Hecate is remembered best not as a goddess of boundaries, but as a goddess of magic. It is the story of how the polecat became one of her companions. Some lexicographers, experts that study the origins of language, believe that the word hag and hex, which means witch, is derived from the word Hecate. The most popular theory is that the Carians in Asia Minor brought Hecate to Greece, where she became a part of their religion. This was all about Hecate, a goddess in ancient Greek religion. Hecate carrying a torch is a common way to show this myth in art. On Greek pottery, she is usually shown as a young woman holding a torch or a key. In revenge for the trick, Eileithyia turned Galinthias into a polecat. She was the only child of the Titanes Perses and Asteria from whom she received her power over heaven, earth, and sea. According to her story, Hecate sometimes withheld these blessings if she felt mortals did not deserve them. A: In the play Macbeth by Shakespeare, in Act three, scene five, Hecate was shown to be angry with the witches as they excluded her from their meetings with Macbeth. First 6 Months for 1.99 with Monthly Student and Teacher Plans Dismiss, 2022 Learning Mole. There might not be any figure in Greek mythology that is as misunderstood as Hecate. Hecate has been referenced in various literary works, including the plays by Sophocles and Euripides. Hecate is known to rule over the sky, the earth, and the sea. But she isnt in the Homeric epics, which is a big deal. Parents: Perses (and Asteria) or Zeus and Asteria (a second-generation Titan) or Nyx (Night) or Aristaios or Demeter (see Theoi Hecate) Hectate is derived from the Greek word 'hekatos,' which 'means worker from afar.' This concept became a central figure in many later versions of polytheism. My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) Contrary to popular current belief she wasnt originally a matron for women but for all who fit the above categories. Much later, Shakespeare referenced her in Macbeth, where she is mentioned in the scene of the three witches boiling together their dire brew. 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. She could not undo the curse, but she made the polecat her sacred servant. The name "Hecate" (Greek , translit. 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). This article incorporates text from Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) by William Smith, which is in the public domain. To find out more about LearningMole please visit our about us page or visit more of our topics available. One of Hecates frequent animal companions, and the one that shes most often depicted with, was a black dog. 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. They were often associated with the three stages of life youth, adulthood, and old age. Some experts believe that the three heads or faces of the Goddess Hecate denote the full, half, and new moon. 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. Hecate the goddess of Greek mythology has been primarily remembered for her associations with magic and witchcraft. Hecate was a goddess in Greek Mythology. The cave and the dawn are both thresholds- liminal times, thresholds between the earth and the underworld and night and day. Hecate is usually thought to have originated in Thrace, a wild northern region of Greece that is also known for its tales of Amazons. 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. Hecate Triformis, Hecate of the three faces or three forms, corresponding to the phases of the moon: dark, waxing, and waning. She was not portrayed as being loving towards children but as someone who took revenge against anyone that harmed children. Hecate is defined by her powerful magic, being at ease with the night and darkness and in wild surroundings. 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. Hecate is the goddess of witchcraft and was specifically known for her herbal knowledge. 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. There are many other interesting facts about Hecate as pointed out by philosophers and researchers. When Alcmene was in labor with Heracles, Hera attempted to stop the childs birth. 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. 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. She was also called the Goddess of the threshold or the Goddess of the house. The myth says that Zeus gave the Lampades to Hera as a reward for her loyalty during the Titanomachy. People used to believe that dogs would eat the dead if they werent buried. They spun the threads of fate at the base of. By the first century CE, Lucans Pharsalia made it clear that Hecate was the goddess of magic and witchcraft. Share This Post. Etymology. The Furies, winged creatures who punished wrongdoing, were also said to be the companions of Hecate. The ancient Greeks thought of her as a Greek goddess, not someone from another country. Some depictions show the Goddess with the head of a dog, horse, and lion, which could be the constellations during the year. During the Hellenistic and Roman times, people still worshipped Hecate. The dog was so closely tied to her than in many ancient stories people could hear the howling and barking of her sacred animal when her magic was used nearby. She may be invoked for protection for dogs and from dogs. The Egyptian god Anubis, who led souls to the Underworld, may also have something to do with dogs. Polecats hid in dirty holes and, it was believed by the Greeks, had a grotesque and unnatural way of mating. One of these was the supper of Hecate, where food was left at crossroads, road junctions, and any other kind of boundary or threshold. As such, she was greatly honored by Zeus, who allowed her to operate on Earth, as well as the sky and the Underworld. The Moirai crossed their arms and Eileithyia refused to help the laboring woman. 170 BCE). She is helping a dog attack a giant who looks like a snake. The parentage of Scylla is hotly debated. She convinced her daughter Eiliethyia, the goddess of childbirth, and the Moirai, the Fates, to prevent the birth. You may like to light incense such as the smoke of wormwood, cypress and lavender in these offerings. The goddess was especially appealed to by sorceresses for aid in their magic and spellsand appears on surviving examples of curse tablets. Hecate is a goddess in Greek mythology often associated with darkness and witchcraft. By joining Kidadl you agree to Kidadls Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receiving marketing communications from Kidadl. The darkness, the moon, and magic have been personified as Hecate in many popular and well-known works of literature and in art. Hecate typically responds to petitions via visions and dreams. As a fertility deity she was invoked by women to aid conception and delivery. Kos, Erythrai,Samothrace, Thessaly, and Miletos also worshipped the. In fact, she existed in such a nominal place that its difficult to say whether she existed as a singular goddess, a trio of beings, or as a minor aspect of a more major deity. And during these times Hecate was also very much connected to other portals- such as doors, entrances, thresholds and eventually the crossroads. She was accompanied by packs of barking dogs. Over time, some of the Olympians changed form and function. Hecates name comes from the Greek word hekatos, which means worker from afar.. To the Greeks this meant not only the moment at which the soul crossed between those to states, but also to a literal place. The Greek form is hekatos, which means "who works from afar," a probable reference to her magic powers, but it may also distantly reference her possible origins in Egypt. They gave mortals wealth, victory, wisdom and luck.