Contrary to popular current belief she wasnt originally a matron for women but for all who fit the above categories. As early as the 5th century BC, the image of the hekataion was the standard way of showing the goddess in sculpture. Although they combined her with Diana and Artemis, the Romans also worshipped this deity, referred to her as Trivia, which means three ways. In the Pharsalia, the witch Erichtho calls on Persephone as the lowest part of Hecate. She was not portrayed as being loving towards children but as someone who took revenge against anyone that harmed children. According to her story, Hecate sometimes withheld these blessings if she felt mortals did not deserve them. 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. Hecate is the Goddess of witchcraft, magic, crossroads, ghosts and necromancy. The Lampades are people who carry torches and travel with the goddess at night. Lastly, the goddess is mentioned in the tragedies of Euripides and Sophocles, among others. 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. 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. In Ancient Greece, this Goddess was honored in most homes as she was considered to bring prosperity. Therefore, this deity is also invoked when there is thought to be a miscarriage of justice. SOLD JUN 15, 2022. On any trip to Greece, it's helpful to have some knowledge of the Greek gods and goddesses. Some later stories agreed that Asteria was her mother, but claimed Zeus had been her father. In ancient times the crossroads didnt have our modern symbolism as a place of choices. 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. Even though there arent many myths about the goddess Hecate, the ones that do exist tell us a lot about where she has power. Athenian Greeks used the evening meal, known as Deipnon, to honor Hecate. The Greek goddess Hecate, or Hekate, is Greece's dark goddess of the crossroads. A statue called Hekate Epipyrgidia (On the Ramparts) stood at the Athens Acropolis entrance. 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. The various statues have also raised questions as to her duties. The darkness, the moon, and magic have been personified as Hecate in many popular and well-known works of literature and in art. Even in descriptions of Medeas witchcraft, it is difficult to distinguish magical rituals from more standard worship and rites. 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 droves of kine and wide herds of goats and flocks of fleecy sheep, if she will, she increases from a few, or makes many to be less. Hecate is often depicted with three heads as she was called the Goddess of the Crossroads. It is the story of how the polecat became one of her companions. However, she was transformed by Circe into the monster form. Hecate is portrayed in single form on sculptures of Myron and Naucydes. She was made to look like a goddess who could easily move from the Underworld to the real world. You may request to banish harm from you and to protect you and your loved ones. Throughout history however, her sphere of influence also included the moon, night, crossroads, boundaries, ghosts and necromancy.Although Hecate was once considered to be a powerful Greek goddess of witchcraft, Hecate was not a major deity when compared, for instance, to the . 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. HECATE (Hekate) - Greek Goddess of Witchcraft, Magic & Ghosts - Theoi Hecate: Goddess Symbols, Correspondences, Myth & Offerings This makes her the granddaughter of Phoebe and Coeus, both Titans. But by the end of the ancient world, this image had changed into a single goddess with three heads. In fact she seems to have started out as Heket, the Egyptian Goddess of Childbirth. They are associated with certain ideas, occupations, or stages of life. Learning Mole focuses on educating children of all ages in key skills of Maths, English and learning through crafts. A: This Greek Goddess is often considered to be capable of both good and evil. 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. Apollo is often called Hekatos, the masculine form of his name. She has long been associated with witchcraft and the occult, even necromancy. Persis and Asteria, two Titans from the generation of deities prior to the Olympians, are the legendary parents of Hecate. 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. These three goddesses are also linked in the Mystery cults. She was the only one among the Titans who retained this power under the rule of Zeus, and she was honored by all the immortal gods. Hecate. It is believed that Hecate represented witchcraft, magic and ghosts. Hecate (also spelt Hekate) is a goddess capable of both good and evil. Some poets say her mother is Crataeis. Hecate has been depicted in Greek art, literature, and pottery dating from the fifth century BCE. She is depicted on the altar of Pergamon with one body and three heads (ca. The Egyptian god Anubis, who led souls to the Underworld, may also have something to do with dogs. Hesiod, for example, seemed to hold in in high regard and makes no mention of this darker association. Seneca often talks about Hecate and her moon-based counterparts and even links Medea to the goddess. Hecate Facts and Information on the Goddess Hecate Her parentage was given differently by various writers. In fact, Hecate might have been another goddess altogether! Why notsubscribe to our LearningMole Library for as little as 1.99 per month to access over1000fun educational videos. Read on to find out more about Greeces most mystical goddess! Apollonius of Rhodes says that the sound of dogs barking from the Underworld can be heard when Hecate is nearby. The hekataion depicted Hecate as three women encircling a central column. From the Greek word for to turn away, apotropaic magic is that which defends by turning away evil or harm. The crossroads are special places, places of great power, but at the same time haunting places. Hesiod describes the goddess in the following glowing terms: Zeus, Cronus son, honoured [Hecate] above all others: he gave her splendid gifts to have a share of the earth and of the barren sea, and from the starry sky as well she has a share in honour, and is honoured most of all by the immortal gods. Earlier, though, there may have been fewer gods with more complex functions. Hecate - Wikipedia 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. She is invoked for justice, especially for sexual crimes against women and girls. Parents: Perses (and Asteria) or Zeus and Asteria (a second-generation Titan) or Nyx (Night) or Aristaios or Demeter (see Theoi Hecate) Dogs also howl at the Moon, so this could be a link. Hecate, however, was not just a goddess shown in three parts. 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). Hekate assisted Demeter in her search for Persephone, guiding her through the night with flaming torches. As such, she was greatly honored by Zeus, who allowed her to operate on Earth, as well as the sky and the Underworld. The people of Sparta claimed that Ares had been nursed by a nymph called Thero. Hecate was also offered dogs, especially puppies, as a sacrifice. This was a terrible fate. The chief Greek god, Zeus, was very fond of this Goddess and gave her a share of the earth and sea. Hecate was a goddess in Greek Mythology. Greek pantheon was once much smaller than we know. 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. Hecate typically responds to petitions via visions and dreams. As was already said, the dog was Hecates most holy animal. What Were the Hamadryads in Greek Mythology? Hesiod only talks about her family and how she killed Clytius in the Gigantomachy. Hecate: Goddess of the Moon, Light and Magic in Greek Mythology and Hecate | Facts, Information, and Mythology 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. When her city fell, the queen was taken captive and lept off a cliff to her death. While Hecates temples in the area are from a later period, she bears a resemblance to a more ancient goddess in Caria. But Hecate herself existed in the in between spaces, as well. A lot of the same things were said about all of the goddesses. She is commonly depicted as a three-headed Goddess, or the Greek version of The Triple Goddess, being the Maiden, Mother, and Crone depending on the season. Sometimes, as was the case with Hecate, it was a single goddess who was shown with three aspects. Scholars think that the goddess arrived in Greece during the Archaic period. Eleusis was in Greece, which is where it is now. In single form she appears on Greek vases and coins. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Thus, pillars called Hecataea stood at crossroads and doorways, perhaps to keep away evil spirits. Long before Hesiod and Homer began writing their poetry, the stories of the gods were passed on through oral tradition. 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. 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. 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. The Goddess Hecate is supposed to be the daughter of Perses, a Titan, and Asteria, a nymph. And there is a good book titled Hekate liminal rites By David Rankine and Sorite DEsteyou should check out. The parentage of Scylla is hotly debated. The most famous witch in Greek mythology received her knowledge of magic from Hecate. She convinced her daughter Eiliethyia, the goddess of childbirth, and the Moirai, the Fates, to prevent the birth. 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. Hecate is the daughter of Perses and Asteria. To learn more about other Goddesses and exciting information, keep visiting on LearningMole. Seeing her friend in pain, Galinthias tricked the Moirai into thinking the child had been born despite their interference. 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. This is especially ironic since, after this, she seems to have become more associated with the underworld, not less. Names derived from hers were common, including Hecatomnus, the father of the ruler Mausolus who built the famous tomb. 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. The Orphic Mysteries said that Hestia was the daughter of Demeter instead. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Hecate was the daughter of Perses and "gold-wreathed" Astraea (the starry night), and her sway extended over earth, heaven, and hell, for which reason she is represented in works of art as a triple divinity, having three female bodies, all young and beautiful, and united together. The Greeks, too, had many different theories about Hecates origins. Hecate | Sacred Wicca creative tips and more. They spun the threads of fate at the base of. Still, she was in charge of things that put her in the spotlight. She would go with Persephone to the Underworld every year when the girl returned to Hades. Women also prayed to her for fertility and the birth of female children. This Goddess is often shown as a woman carrying a key or torches. Origin and Family Persis and Asteria, two Titans from the generation of deities prior to the Olympians, are the legendary parents of Hecate. She was often placed at the entrance of homes to help protect against the evil forces of the world. 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. Her group included the Lampades, the nymphs of the Underworld, and ghosts. Polecats hid in dirty holes and, it was believed by the Greeks, had a grotesque and unnatural way of mating. In the 6th century BCE, a circular altar was built in Miletos to honour the goddess (the earliest archaeological evidence of her worship). Moon Goddess of Hidden Wisdom, Change and Darkness. In Greece, there is some evidence that Hecate was originally seen as a much more benevolent, cosmic goddess. Some scholars believe that Hecate was one such goddess. She was also the goddess of the Oikos and the guardian of its entrances. She has also been mentioned in the works of Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, King Lear, and Macbeth. Several times, authors make a connection between Medeas use of magic, both harmful and protective, and her worship of Hecate. But because these Anatolian cult sites were built later, other classicists say that the goddess could not have come from Anatolia. Female monsters also often came in threes, as was the case with the Gorgons and Graea. 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. 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 helping a dog attack a giant who looks like a snake. The things that make Hecate seem like an older woman are in the Pharsalia. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published. Hecates name comes from the Greek word hekatos, which means worker from afar.. During ancient times the place where roads met or at crossroads, a pole with three masks was erected. Kos, Erythrai,Samothrace, Thessaly, and Miletos also worshipped the. But Hekate was in this time also connected to liminality. Hecate was also known as the queen or Goddess of the night. Due to her magical powers, Hecate was believed to protect children, sailors, and shepherds. According to Greek mythology when the universe first came into being the primordial gods were there, fully formed. Hecate was variously associated with crossroads, entrance-ways, dogs, light, the moon, magic, witchcraft, knowledge of herbs and poisonous plants, ghosts, necromancy, and sorcery. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Hecate was also linked to a lot of other goddesses from other pantheons. Hecate appears in the pseudo-Homeric hymn to Demeter- there Hecate dwelled in a cave during Kores abduction and appeared to Demeter in the dawn while she was searching for her lost daughter. Although much of her power appeared generally dark or menacing, Hecate could also be a merciful goddess. Hecate - Roman and Greek Gods and Goddesses Since the 5th century BCE, the goddess has been linked to the darker parts of life, like death, witchcraft, magic, the Moon, dreams, fierce hounds, and creatures that roam the night. At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. These crystals possess unique energies and properties that enhance spiritual practices and aid connections with Hecate. Asteria may be the original goddess associated with the Asterion mountain range on the island of Crete. In addition to magic and witchcraft, Hecate was also considered to be the Goddess of crossroads, gates, and ghosts. Hecate was believed to be a goddess of both the living world and the underworld. Hecate is a Goddess shrouded in mystery, for there is continuing debate about Her name, origin and character. In the sources about Hekate that are from the ancient world, the crossroads are not mentioned as a symbol of Hecate. From lino cutting to surfing to childrens mental health, their hobbies and interests range far and wide. Hecate | Myth & Symbols | Britannica Zorya The Slavic goddess of beauty and light took three forms corresponding to morning, evening, and midnight. 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! "Hecate: Greece's Dark Goddess of the Crossroads." She was a goddess of magic and the underworld, but she was also a protector of the home and a guardian of borders. Omissions? The best of the LearningMole geography tutorials. Follow for more great fun learning. She was connected to occult practices such as witchcraft and magic, the Moon, gateways, and nocturnal beasts such as hellhounds and ghosts. Since the fifth century BCE, Hecate has been associated with magic, witchcraft, the moon, and other dark influences. Hecate was also offered the sacrifice of dogs, especially puppies. The myth says that Zeus gave the Lampades to Hera as a reward for her loyalty during the Titanomachy. Another story said that Hecate herself had cursed a witch named Gale to be a polecat for disgusting her with incontinence and abnormal desires. Her considerable power over nature ensured her continued popularity, but she's never fitted in with the crowd. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. A: Hecate is the Greek Goddess of magic and witchcraft. It was said that she learned herbalism and spells from Hecate herself. However. She was a goddess in charge of magic, witchcraft, and much more. 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's ill at ease in cities and civilization. She is invoked for justice, especially for sexual crimes against women and girls. 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. Hecate hkt, hkt , in Greek religion and mythology, goddess of ghosts and witchcraft. Hecate, however, is routinely described as the goddess of witchcraft and associated with characters like Medea and Circe, the witch of Homers Odyssey. She is good in the byre with Hermes to increase the stock. Her name was derived from the Greek word hekatos which means "worker from afar". Scylla's most retold appearance is in Homer's Odyssey. To the Greeks this meant not only the moment at which the soul crossed between those to states, but also to a literal place. Further, the home would be blessed and any wrong-doing by family members would be forgiven and the household purified. "Worker-from-afar." Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). She was a goddess that could be both a protective guardian and a source of menace. They are passionate about turning your everyday moments into memories and bringing you inspiring ideas to have fun with your family. HEKATE (Hecate) was the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy. Hecate is invoked when justice is not forthcoming from other channels. Originally she seems to have been an extremely powerful and benevolent goddess, identified with three other goddessesSelene (in heaven), Artemis (on earth), and Persephone (in the underworld). Hecate was believed to be a goddess of both the living world and the underworld. Great Facts about Goddess Hecate - Learning Mole Her tasks went beyond the heavens, the earth, the seas, and the Underworld. It was believed that she could see in all directions. The chief Greek god, Zeus, was very fond of this Goddess and gave her a share of the earth and sea. Hecate is one of the many goddesses in Greek mythology. The Greek three-headed hound of Hades, Cerberus, may have been an earlier version of Hecate. Interesting facts: Hestia was one of three goddesses immune to the influence of Aphrodite. This could be because she sided with him during the 10-year battle between the Titans and the Olympians. 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. She is also known as Soteria (Savior), the Mother of Angels, and the Cosmic World. There are many other interesting facts about Hecate as pointed out by philosophers and researchers. She rules wisdom, choices, expiation, victory, vengeance, and travel. 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). We offer advice and practical, interactive ideas to help parents challenge, teach and develop their childrens skills at home. Mother of Hermes: A Complete Guide to Maia Greek Goddess - MythologySource While some scholars attribute these displays as holding a dark side to Hecate, most myths associate her with a protective nature toward humans. She was also closely associated to the spiritual world, ghosts, and the dead. This concept became a central figure in many later versions of polytheism. The blessings she gave them were eventually seen as magic, while prayers were seen as incantations. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong. Hecate also presided over more mystical boundaries. In the Greek religion, strange rituals were done to honour the goddess. According to the Greek writer Hesiod*, Hecate was the daughter of the Titan* Perses and the nymph Asteria. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 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). 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. 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. 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). Sources say there was a sacred garden dedicated to Hecate at her temple in Colchis (modern day Georgia). Controlling who moved through the border between the earth and the underworld gave her a unique power to summon spirits and raise the dead. Hecate: Triple-Bodied Greek Goddess of Witchcraft and Keeper of Keys Hecate - goddess of ghosts, witchcraft & magic - Religious Talks She was the ruler of crossroads, entrances, nighttime, light, magic (witchcraft and sorcery), herbs and plants. Hecate can banishghosts(or produce a ghost infestation). Hecate was a goddess of boundaries and in between spaces. Like Hermes, who was also a deity of liminal spaces, statues of Hecate were often placed at crossroads and borders. Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. Later periods show statues of Hecate in three-fold having 3 separate bodies and faces. The Egyptian fertility goddess Heqet was associated with magic, which the Egyptians called heqa. 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. She has also been associated with the dark side of human beings, which is death. Mystifying Hecate Facts: The Greek Goddess Of Magic And Spells This is shown in Act III, scene five of the play. On an Attic vase from the 5th century BCE, a woman is shown giving a goddess a puppy and a basket of cakes. 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.