The goddess told Demeter everything she had heard, but Demeter didnt know who had taken her daughter. As an Amazon Associate, Kidadl earns from qualifying purchases. Because she was associated with borders, gates, and doorways, Hecate took on a protective role. She was the only Titan who kept her power while Zeus was in charge. Any information you provide to us via this website may be placed by us on servers located in countries outside the EU if you do not agree to such placement, do not provide the information. Subscribe to our popular newsletter Synced Global AI Weekly to get weekly AI updates. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. According to her story, Hecate sometimes withheld these blessings if she felt mortals did not deserve them. 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. 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. 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. In her form as a triple goddess, Hecate was closely linked to intersections. Your privacy is important to us. She was accompanied by packs of barking dogs. Nearby Recently Sold Homes. Zorya The Slavic goddess of beauty and light took three forms corresponding to morning, evening, and midnight. Lastly, the goddess is mentioned in the tragedies of Euripides and Sophocles, among others. One of Hecates frequent animal companions, and the one that shes most often depicted with, was a black dog. She was often placed at the entrance of homes to help protect against the evil forces of the world. She is invoked for justice, especially for sexual crimes against women and girls. In sculptures from the Classical and Hellenistic periods, she looks most striking when she has three bodies and three heads, one body with three heads, or three bodies and one head. Hecate was a complex, ancient goddess known to the Greeks but originally worshiped by people of Asia Minor*. In revenge for the trick, Eileithyia turned Galinthias into a polecat. She convinced her daughter Eiliethyia, the goddess of childbirth, and the Moirai, the Fates, to prevent the birth. The Egyptian fertility goddess Heqet was associated with magic, which the Egyptians called heqa. SOLD JUN 14, 2022. During the time of the Romans, Hecate was often combined with the gods Artemis and Selene, especially in Roman poetry. outlandish in her infernal aspects, she is more at home on the fringes than in the centre ofGreekpolytheism. Her tasks went beyond the heavens, the earth, the seas, and the Underworld. In ancient times, Hecates three-part form was shown as three separate bodies surrounding a central column. A: In Greek Mythology, Hecate was the Goddess of magic and witchcraft. This was all about Hecate, a goddess in ancient Greek religion. Her attributes, besides the torch, are the snake, whip, dagger, and sword. Moving between the barrier between life and death explains Hecates connection to both ghosts and necromancy. It is believed that Zeus, the king of the gods, asked Hecate to help find Persephone after Hades kidnapped her. 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. 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. 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. The Matres While little is known of their exact function, over 1,000 images of the three goddesses have been found in Northwestern Europe. As was already said, the dog was Hecates most holy animal. Hecate was also known as the queen or Goddess of the night. The goddess was frequently associated with Demeter and even assimilated to her in some cults. In fact she seems to have started out as Heket, the Egyptian Goddess of Childbirth. Hecate became Persephones guardian and close friend while she was living in the Underworld. On the Pergamon Altar of Zeus, from the 2nd century BCE, a three-headed Hecate and a dog attack a snake-like giant. Still another school of thought links her, at least linguistically, to Egypt. Hectate is derived from the Greek word 'hekatos,' which 'means worker from afar.' 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). According to Greek mythology when the universe first came into being the primordial gods were there, fully formed. Esoteric writing from this time says that Hecate has the heads of a horse, a dog, and a snake. Etymology. The goddess, on the other hand, usually has human heads. Hecate can banishghosts(or produce a ghost infestation). The Tridevi The triad of goddesses in Hinduism often represents the three states of creation, preservation, and destruction. Many Anatolian gods had their roots in the Greek pantheon. This was a terrible fate. You then connect yourself to her through visualizing and forming a mental image of her presence, you then thank her and pray to her. 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. The time of the dark moon is a special time of the month to give offerings to Hecate. 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 doesnt often appear in Greek art and writing until the 5th century BCE. Empusa or Empousa (/ m p j u s /; Ancient Greek: ; plural: Empousai) is a shape-shifting female being in Greek mythology, said to possess a single leg of copper, commanded by Hecate, whose precise nature is obscure. 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. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Hesiod only talks about her family and how she killed Clytius in the Gigantomachy. 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 facts about Hecate provides a list detailing fascinating additional info to increase your knowledge about Hecate in Greek Mythology. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. They gave mortals wealth, victory, wisdom and luck. Many historians believe that the Greek pantheon was once much smaller than we know it today. She is not a typical one-dimensional goddess but lives on many different levels. First 6 Months for 1.99 with Monthly Student and Teacher Plans Dismiss, 2022 Learning Mole. These primordial gods each represented a different aspect of existence, together they formed the building blocks of the early universe. On an Attic vase from the 5th century BCE, a woman is shown giving a goddess a puppy and a basket of cakes. As a fertility deity she was invoked by women to aid conception and delivery. We will examine her origins and describe the crossroads ritual. Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. She was most famously the goddess of magic, witchcraft, ghosts, necromancy, the Moon, and the night. Even in descriptions of Medeas witchcraft, it is difficult to distinguish magical rituals from more standard worship and rites. Hecate is portrayed in single form on sculptures of Myron and Naucydes. Hecate was also offered the sacrifice of dogs, especially puppies. The Orphic Mysteries said that Hestia was the daughter of Demeter instead. There might not be any figure in Greek mythology that is as misunderstood as Hecate. The blessings she gave them were eventually seen as magic, while prayers were seen as incantations. Q: How do the three witches make Hecate angry? Her name was derived from the Greek word hekatos which means worker from afar. Intrinsically ambivalent and polymorphous, she straddles conventional boundaries and eludes definition. She's ill at ease in cities and civilization. But the version of Hecate that appears in Greek texts is not so straightforward. Hecate is known to rule over the sky, the earth, and the sea. Hecate is closely associated with several other goddesses in the Greek pantheon, with symbolism and function seeming to overlap. Hecate: [noun] a Greek goddess associated especially with the underworld, night, and witchcraft. Latin Spelling. Child of Perses and Asteria, she was the only Titan to retain her control under Zeus' reign. Because of this, some people would make sacrifices of dogs, especially puppies, to her. As such, she was greatly honored by Zeus, who allowed her to operate on Earth, as well as the sky and the Underworld. Hecate acted as a veil between the world of the mortals and the supernatural. Much later, Shakespeare referenced her in Macbeth, where she is mentioned in the scene of the three witches boiling together their dire brew. But Hekate was in this time also connected to liminality. Hecate Greek Goddess of Witchcraft : The Complete Guide. Some experts believe that the three heads or faces of the Goddess Hecate denote the full, half, and new moon. In ancient times the crossroads didnt have our modern symbolism as a place of choices. Midwives, witches, healers, herbalists, dog lovers and rescuers; she is the matron of women in general and protects those who ride horses, male warriors or cavalry as well. Share This Post. In the sources about Hekate that are from the ancient world, the crossroads are not mentioned as a symbol of Hecate. She appears in Ovid's Metamorphoses. According to the most genuine traditions, she appears to have been an ancient Thracian divinity, and a Titan, who, from the time of the Titans, ruled in heaven, on the earth, and in the sea, who bestowed on mortals wealth, victory, wisdom, good luck to sailors and hunters, and prosperity to youth and to the flocks of cattle; but all these blessings might at the same time be withheld by her, if mortals did not deserve them. Those who failed to win the goddesss favor could expect her to invite evil and misfortune into their lives. Euripides, on the other hand, mentions her mother isLeto. 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. These crystals possess unique energies and properties that enhance spiritual practices and aid connections with Hecate. "Worker-from-afar." Her name is akin to the Latin words dium ("sky") and dius ("daylight"). In fact, the earliest depictions of Hecate can only be differentiated from those of Artemis by inscriptions. Major temple shrines to Hecate were in the regions of Phrygia and Caria. To find out more about LearningMole please visit our about us page or visit more of our topics available. Her name has been connected to dark magic and disturbing rituals in the works of Shakespeare and well into modern times. As a cthonic goddess of the underworld, her rituals and rites were often associated with death and secrecy. Her priests are normally accompanied by hell hounds sent by their goddess to guard her temples. Over time, some of the Olympians changed form and function. The Hades and Persephone Story. 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. The people of Sparta claimed that Ares had been nursed by a nymph called Thero. 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. 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. Regula, deTraci. A few pagans and Wiccans have also been known to worship Hecate as a dark goddess. Hecate was considered an ancient Thracian divinity and she was also a titan; the titans ruled the heavens, the earth and the sea. 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. There are few legends about Her, and no fixed genealogy. Several times, authors make a connection between Medeas use of magic, both harmful and protective, and her worship of Hecate. 1,178 Sq. This Goddess is often shown as a woman carrying a key or torches. The Greeks, too, had many different theories about Hecates origins. While Hecates temples in the area are from a later period, she bears a resemblance to a more ancient goddess in Caria. Lycophron, 77; Scholiast on Aristophanes'. The goddess was also worshipped in Kos, Erythrai, Samothrace, Thessaly, and Miletos. 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. She witnessed the abduction of Demeter's daughter Persephone to the underworld and, torch in hand, assisted in the search for her. Some of the statues she made as offerings to the goddess had the Graces dancing around her. The goddess Hecate is one of the Greek goddesses that not many people know about. Another option was a dish of red mullet, which was usually not allowed to be given to other gods. One sculpture depicts Hecate with a friendly dog and another with heads of a cow, dog, boar, serpent or horse. She could not undo the curse, but she made the polecat her sacred servant. 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. It even appears in Christianity, with the gospels placing three Marys at both the Crucifixion and Christs tomb. In fact, Hecate might have been another goddess altogether! She was there when Demeters daughter Persephone was taken to the Underworld, and she helped search for her with a torch in her hand after she saw it happen. People used to believe that dogs would eat the dead if they werent buried. The duration ofa dark moonvaries between 1.5 and 3.5 days) to the crossroads. According to Hesiods Theogony, the Titans were the first Greek gods born of earth and the heavens. During ancient times the place where roads met or at crossroads, a pole with three masks was erected. They were so closely linked that Hecate was referred to as Medeas mother in some later texts, although earlier ones had said she was the child of an Oceanid. Instead, some believe that the goddess originated in Asia Minor. Lagina was one of the most important Carian sanctuaries.Hecate also has a strong connection with Georgia as well as throughout Italy. 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. By the 2nd century AD, a story had developed around Galinthias, a daughter of Proteus and friend of Alcmene. 1.5 Baths. Her symbols were two torches, the crossroads, and black dogs. This article incorporates text from Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) by William Smith, which is in the public domain. Hecate is remembered best not as a goddess of boundaries, but as a goddess of magic. Offerings to this Goddess were also made during the night of the new moon. This made her one of the few deities to have the power to move freely between the world of the living and the underworld. Earlier, though, there may have been fewer gods with more complex functions. While Hera was considered a singular being, she was given three names to represent her different stages in life maiden, wife, and mother. The Greek three-headed hound of Hades, Cerberus, may have been an earlier version of Hecate. Not only could she move between the realms, but she had power to control the passage of others. The hekataion depicted Hecate as three women encircling a central column. Hecate was also linked to a lot of other goddesses from other pantheons. She acted as a sort of guardian because she watched over the places that allowed passage into homes, cities, or even states. Hecate is often depicted with three heads as she was called the Goddess of the Crossroads. Proponents of this theory believe that this may have been the case with Hecate. The evening meal in ancient Greece, especially in Athens known as Deipnon, was in honor of Hecate. She was the daughter of the Titan Perses and the nymph Asteria. Hecate is invoked when justice is not forthcoming from other channels. 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 . One of her epithets, Apotropaia, references the protection she gave in these spaces. Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. In Late Antiquity, the empousai have been described as a category of phantoms or spectres, equated with the lamiai and mormolykeia . Her companions are known to punish wrong doing and criminals. If lost at a crossroads, literal or metaphoric, invoke her name and then pay attention to signs from her. In the writings of Hesiod, Hecate is the daughter of the Titan Perses and the nymph Asteria. 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. The Carians were devoted to Hecate, and she was the primary deity worshipped in the town of Lagina. Her origins and powers were unexplained and changeable. As these stories were passed on, though, they often changed. ThoughtCo. Many people think that worshipping the goddess began before the Greeks, while others think it started in Thrace. Hecate's powers transcended the boundaries of the sky, the earth, the seas, and the underworld. Hecate was the chief goddess presiding over magic and spells. Hecate is the daughter of Perses and Asteria. 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. For many it is a time to connect with Her, to thank her for her blessings, her guidance and her protection during the last lunar cycle and also to ask her to bless and protect them in the new lunar cycle. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Her group included the Lampades, the nymphs of the Underworld, and ghosts. Regula, deTraci. Most likely, the cults of Thessalian Pherai (Pherae) and Eleusis saw Hekate as Chthonian (Underworld) Hermes's wife. She may be invoked for protection for dogs and from dogs. You ask Hecate to feed on these offerings, to accept them as an act of friendship and continued bond and also as an act of gratitude on your part. 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. My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) She was made to look like a goddess who could easily move from the Underworld to the real world. She has also been associated with the dark side of human beings, which is death. She was also bound to other goddesses in a closely-linked trio. She is also said to be the Goddess of childbirth and the protector of children. https://www.thoughtco.com/greek-mythology-hecate-1526205 (accessed March 4, 2023). Another story of Hecates protective nature also involves another of her sacred animals. 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. During the Romans, many of her traits belonged to the world of the dead. This is how she came to command the earth, bliss . Female monsters also often came in threes, as was the case with the Gorgons and Graea. Hecate was the principal goddess who had jurisdiction over enchantments and spells. 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. As the goddess of the night, witchcraft and sorcery, Hecate was very important to ancient Greeks, particularly to the famed author and scholar Hesiod. The conflicting origins of Hecate were only the beginning of what made this goddess so mysterious. Was the Griffin a Bird from Greek Mythology? 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. We offer advice and practical, interactive ideas to help parents challenge, teach and develop their childrens skills at home. 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. Scylla's most retold appearance is in Homer's Odyssey. Her parentage was given differently by various writers. The chief Greek god, Zeus, was very fond of this Goddess and gave her a share of the earth and sea. Although Hecate found Persephone, instead of rescuing her, she helped her settle into her new life as the bride of Hades. When Persephone was abducted to the underworld by Hades, Hecate was the only witness willing to help Demeter search for her daughter. Of course, as the goddess of boundaries she had the power to let things in as well as keep them out. One of these was the supper of Hecate, where food was left at crossroads, road junctions, and any other kind of boundary or threshold. Archaeologists have found essential offerings to the goddess at Lagina in Caria and Phrygia. Hecate is invoked when justice is not forthcoming from other channels. The Charites (Graces) and Horai (Seasons) were also trios of minor goddesses in Greek mythology. There is evidence that this may have been the case with Hecate. In mythology Nyx represented night. Medeas magic was often described as having to do with necromancy, sleep, and the night. But she isnt in the Homeric epics, which is a big deal. She is the witness to every crime. 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. She was both a product of the Titans and an honored member of Zeuss court at Olympus. Her companions are theFuries(Erinyes), the winged creatures who punished wrong-doing, and her children are the Empusae, female demons partial to seducing travellers. And the dark moon is also a powerful time to cleanse you, from negative energy, negative influences or potentially harmful spirits. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. Hecate was both Greek and foreign at the same time. Study medicinal and magical herbalism and become one of Hecate's priestesses. They call her Aristaion or Night. People believed that by honoring and praying to this Goddess, their homes would be preserved from the vengeance of the dead. She was also called the Goddess of the threshold or the Goddess of the house. The best of the LearningMole geography tutorials. The most commonly repeated story of her birth was that Hecate was the daughter of Perses and Asteria, two second-generation Titans. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Most of the ceremonies and festivals dedicated to this Goddess were often celebrated at night. Some speculate that it represents the full moon, half moon, and new moon. She held several different roles, including earth goddess, queen of the underworld, and goddess of magic and witchcraft.. We know you don't want to miss any news or research breakthroughs. This grouping of the goddesses happens again in Aristophanes Frogs (1358f) when Aeschylus character calls on the goddesses. Corrections? However. Hecate is petitioned for fertility, especially for female children. Kos, Erythrai,Samothrace, Thessaly, and Miletos also worshipped the. What Were the Hamadryads in Greek Mythology? Is Hecate a jealous goddess? 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). She is often displayed holding two torches or a key. The first sculpture of Hecate in triple form was the (lost) statue by Alcamenes (fifth century BCE) at the Acropolis. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! She was specifically associated with witchcraft, magick, the Moon, Archways, and creatures of the night such as hell-hounds and ghosts. She is sometimes shown holding a key. One of these was the boundary between life and death. Some authors say that she was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. 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. By the first century CE, Lucans Pharsalia made it clear that Hecate was the goddess of magic and witchcraft. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The three-part goddess was able to keep watch in all directions, and became standard in both written and visual representations. Updates? Q: Why was Hecate excluded from witch meetings? It is unclear exactly when Hecate became so closely linked with magic and witchcraft. 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. Sometimes, as was the case with Hecate, it was a single goddess who was shown with three aspects. According to the Greek writer Hesiod*, Hecate was the daughter of the Titan* Perses and the nymph Asteria. A: In Greek mythology, Hecate was the Goddess of witchcraft and magic. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The various statues have also raised questions as to her duties. The Moirai crossed their arms and Eileithyia refused to help the laboring woman. creative tips and more. Your IP: 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. 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. When Alcmene was in labor with Heracles, Hera attempted to stop the childs birth. 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 was often shown holding two torches, such as would be found beside gates, to allow her to illuminate both sides of a boundary. Although they combined her with Diana and Artemis, the Romans also worshipped this deity, referred to her as Trivia, which means three ways. The Lampades are people who carry torches and travel with the goddess at night. They thought she would protect them and keep away evil spirits. Scholars say that this Apolline name connects Hecate to Artemis, another goddess with a similar area of power. Hecate was a goddess of boundaries and in between spaces. We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection.
facts about hecate