Article created on Monday, March 3, 1997. Euripides, on the other hand, mentions her mother isLeto. Sometimes, as was the case with Hecate, it was a single goddess who was shown with three aspects. A: In Greek Mythology, Hecate was the Goddess of magic and witchcraft. Follow for more great fun learning. She rules wisdom, choices, expiation, victory, vengeance, and travel. Women also prayed to her for fertility and the birth of female children. The conflicting origins of Hecate were only the beginning of what made this goddess so mysterious. 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. While Hera was considered a singular being, she was given three names to represent her different stages in life maiden, wife, and mother. The name "Hecate" (Greek , translit. During the time of the Romans, Hecate was often combined with the gods Artemis and Selene, especially in Roman poetry. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. And the dark moon is also a powerful time to cleanse you, from negative energy, negative influences or potentially harmful spirits. She is also said to be the Goddess of childbirth and the protector of children. Many of the rituals described in ancient texts, for example the elaborate sacrifice of a ewe in Argonautica, are in keeping with what is known about the worship of other deities of the underworld. Hecate was represented as single-formed, clad in a long robe, holding burning torches; in later representations she was triple-formed, with three bodies standing back-to-back, probably so that she could look in all directions at once from the crossroads. She is believed to visit the Underworld to help other gods and people who were outcasts due to fear. She could not be forced to love anyone. She was also bound to other goddesses in a closely-linked trio. 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. Seeing her friend in pain, Galinthias tricked the Moirai into thinking the child had been born despite their interference. Her association with dark magic is also tied to her identification as an underworld goddess. In the Pharsalia, the witch Erichtho calls on Persephone as the lowest part of Hecate. Some early writers claimed that Hecate was actually the princess Iphigenia, saved from death by Artemis and transformed into a goddess. Hecate was sometimes seen as a Titan, like her parents, and in the battle between the Titans and the Greek gods led by Zeus, she helped Zeus and so was not banished to the underworld with the rest of them. She was also associated with some of the most revered and respected goddesses of Olympus. This was a terrible fate. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/greek-mythology-hecate-1526205. It is even more enjoyable Coconuts are delicious. Over time, some of the Olympians changed form and function. The masculine form of this word is said to be used for Apollo, one of the Greek gods. Hecate: [noun] a Greek goddess associated especially with the underworld, night, and witchcraft. The three-part goddess was able to keep watch in all directions, and became standard in both written and visual representations. Though perhaps originally an indigenous woodland goddess, Diana early became identified with Artemis. This was all about Hecate, a goddess in ancient Greek religion. 139.162.195.99 She appears in Ovid's Metamorphoses. The heads could be of a dog, a lion, or a horse, representing the constellations that make up the year. 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. What Were the Hamadryads in Greek Mythology? Hecate was weaved strongly into all these symbolisms of the crossroads and still does to her devotees. She is sometimes depicted as being accompanied by dogs or hounds and ghosts. Some of the statues she made as offerings to the goddess had the Graces dancing around her. A: This Greek Goddess is often considered to be capable of both good and evil. 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. 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 fact she seems to have started out as Heket, the Egyptian Goddess of Childbirth. According to a legend, Odysseus got the Trojan queen Hecuba as a captive after the defeat of Troy. In the 6th century BCE, a circular altar was built in Miletos to honour the goddess (the earliest archaeological evidence of her worship). If you enjoyed this content why not dive into some more historical eras check out these articles: Ancient Rome, Ancient Egyptians The First Woman Pharaoh, Greek Mythology Medusa, Native American History. She was also called the Goddess of the threshold or the Goddess of the house. Eating crunchy while enjoying a good movie or your favourite video game is a blessing. She is helping a dog attack a giant who looks like a snake. Thus, pillars called Hecataea stood at crossroads and doorways, perhaps to keep away evil spirits. Further, the home would be blessed and any wrong-doing by family members would be forgiven and the household purified. Your privacy is important to us. 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. She held several different roles, including earth goddess, queen of the underworld, and goddess of magic and witchcraft.. Omissions? She would go with Persephone to the Underworld every year when the girl returned to Hades. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. When they heard this the Moirai uncrossed their arms, releasing the bonds that kept the infant Heracles from the earth. The various statues have also raised questions as to her duties. 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. 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. Updates? She was known by her Roman name, Trivia, as well as by her triple form. During ancient times the place where roads met or at crossroads, a pole with three masks was erected. These crystals possess unique energies and properties that enhance spiritual practices and aid connections with Hecate. This is how she came to command the earth, bliss . They call her Aristaion or Night. Your IP: Demeter descended to the underworld every spring to bring her daughter back to the surface, making the three goddesses share an association with the underworld. IT WAS A COMMON PRACTICE TO PLACE IMAGES OF HECATE ATCITYGATES & THE DOORWAYS OF PRIVATE HOMES AS SHE COULD WARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS. "Hecate: Greece's Dark Goddess of the Crossroads." When you buy through the links on our site we may earn a commission. When Alcmene was in labor with Heracles, Hera attempted to stop the childs birth. Lastly, the goddess is mentioned in the tragedies of Euripides and Sophocles, among others. What Were the Hamadryads in Greek Mythology? Even Zeus, the King of the Olympian Gods, is said to have reverenced her, and there are hints that she was considered to be an all-powerful goddess. Hecate is the Goddess of witchcraft, magic, crossroads, ghosts and necromancy. $204,000 Last Sold Price. Like her Greek counterpart, she was also a goddess of domestic animals. However. Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. 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. Her main jobs were to control boundaries, witchcraft, and the Underworld. outlandish in her infernal aspects, she is more at home on the fringes than in the centre ofGreekpolytheism. Hecate Triodos is the specific aspect presiding over crossroads. The goddess told Demeter everything she had heard, but Demeter didnt know who had taken her daughter. They are sometimes represented with the familiar aspects of the maiden, mother, and crone. 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. 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. The boundaries she oversaw were not limited to the physical world, though. The Greek three-headed hound of Hades, Cerberus, may have been an earlier version of Hecate. Most of the ceremonies and festivals dedicated to this Goddess were often celebrated at night. A shrine to this Goddess was built at the entrance of homes and cities as she was believed to keep evil spirits away. Origin and Family Persis and Asteria, two Titans from the generation of deities prior to the Olympians, are the legendary parents of Hecate. In Ancient Greece, this Goddess was honored in most homes as she was considered to bring prosperity. She was connected to occult practices such as witchcraft and magic, the Moon, gateways, and nocturnal beasts such as hellhounds and ghosts. A: In Greek mythology, Hecate was the Goddess of witchcraft and magic. 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). On the other hand, Euripides says that Leto is her mother. Even in descriptions of Medeas witchcraft, it is difficult to distinguish magical rituals from more standard worship and rites. However, the queen killed the Thracian king when on her way to Greece. 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. The daughter of Perses and Asteria (twin sister of Leto ), Hecate was a member of the third generation of Titans, but sided with Zeus and his siblings during the Titanomachy. She could switch between being a Titan and a goddess in Greek mythology. This could mean that the goddess didnt come to Greece from Caria until a relatively late date. Author: Hecate He | Editor: Michael Sarazen. As such, she was greatly honored by Zeus, who allowed her to operate on Earth, as well as the sky and the Underworld. 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. Regula, deTraci. Later periods show statues of Hecate in three-fold having 3 separate bodies and faces. In literature, there is a clear link between her, Demeter, and Persephone. Hecate was a complex, ancient goddess known to the Greeks but originally worshiped by people of Asia Minor*. She was a goddess of magic and the underworld, but she was also a protector of the home and a guardian of borders. Why notsubscribe to our LearningMole Library for as little as 1.99 per month to access over1000fun educational videos. The Moirai, or Fates, were one such trio of goddesses. We offer advice and practical, interactive ideas to help parents challenge, teach and develop their childrens skills at home. Major temple shrines to Hecate were in the regions of Phrygia and Caria. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. Her group included the Lampades, the nymphs of the Underworld, and ghosts. As one of the deities capable of passing between realms, she had access to the secrets of the dead. The blessings she gave them were eventually seen as magic, while prayers were seen as incantations. 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 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. Hecate (also spelt Hekate) is a goddess capable of both good and evil. Long before Hesiod and Homer began writing their poetry, the stories of the gods were passed on through oral tradition. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. Trade, colonization, and migration resulted in a great deal of cultural exchange between the two regions. Modern neopagan and Wiccan religions often include worship of a triple goddess, and of Hecate herself. The iconography had not yet come to include her usual attributes, such as her keys and torches or her three aspects. As you may already know Hecateis a goddess ofGreek mythologywho was capable of both good and evil. On an Attic vase from the 5th century BCE, a woman is shown giving a goddess a puppy and a basket of cakes. She was also closely associated to the spiritual world, ghosts, and the dead. HEKATE (Hecate) was the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy. Nearby Recently Sold Homes. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Hecate is the goddess of witchcraft and was specifically known for her herbal knowledge. It is believed that Hecate represented witchcraft, magic and ghosts. The chief Greek god, Zeus, was very fond of this Goddess and gave her a share of the earth and sea. 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. Hesiod claimed that Hecate was a favorite of Zeus . 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. Greeks likewise borrowed many deities and legends. Latin Spelling. However, she is believed to be protective of human beings. 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 hugged the girl when Persephone was reunited with her mother, Demeter. She is sometimes shown holding a key. The aspects of the goddess that had darker connotations were separated from her to create another goddess altogether in the character of Hecate. Hecate is defined by her powerful magic, being at ease with the night and darkness and in wild surroundings. 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. It even appears in Christianity, with the gospels placing three Marys at both the Crucifixion and Christs tomb. In the physical world this could mean anything from doorways to city walls and state borders. The witches were telling Macbeth about his future and had not consulted the Goddess and had left her out of the meeting. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Regula, deTraci. She is not a typical one-dimensional goddess but lives on many different levels. Hecate was said to be a beautiful lady with dark hair. Such triple goddesses were common in ancient religions. These primordial gods each represented a different aspect of existence, together they formed the building blocks of the early universe. 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). The ancient Greeks thought of her as a Greek goddess, not someone from another country. At doorways and crossroads, pillars of the goddess Hecate, who held a torch, stood. The Goddess Hecate is supposed to be the daughter of Perses, a Titan, and Asteria, a nymph. 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. ThoughtCo, Dec. 6, 2021, thoughtco.com/greek-mythology-hecate-1526205. She's ill at ease in cities and civilization. Moon Goddess of Hidden Wisdom, Change and Darkness. Hecate is portrayed in single form on sculptures of Myron and Naucydes. (2021, December 6). As a fertility deity she was invoked by women to aid conception and delivery. Her halos are usually made of moonbeams. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). All Rights Reserved, Ancient Egyptians The First Woman Pharaoh, A Crunchy Pistachios Tale: 13 Interesting Facts About These Salty Munchies. 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. Related Topics: greek. She is often displayed holding two torches or a key. Hecate has been referenced in various literary works, including the plays by Sophocles and Euripides. Hecate Greek Goddess of Witchcraft : The Complete Guide. Hecate: Greece's Dark Goddess of the Crossroads. She was the ruler of crossroads, entrances, nighttime, light, magic (witchcraft and sorcery), herbs and plants. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. Who is Hecate? Hecate is petitioned for fertility, especially for female children. She was also the goddess of the Oikos and the guardian of its entrances. Her name is akin to the Latin words dium ("sky") and dius ("daylight"). It is the story of how the polecat became one of her companions. 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! This Goddess is often shown as a woman carrying a key or torches. Roman poets encouraged the idea that Hecate was three different things by calling her Hecate-Selene and other similar names. 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. Hecate was also offered dogs, especially puppies, as a sacrifice. Hectate is derived from the Greek word 'hekatos,' which 'means worker from afar.' Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, creative tips and more. Hesiod goes on to say that the goddess supports warriors, athletes, hunters, horsemen, herdsmen, shepherds, fishermen, and children. 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. She was not portrayed as being loving towards children but as someone who took revenge against anyone that harmed children. 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. 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. As the worship of Artemis evolved over time, the Greeks began to focus more on her purity and positive aspects. Picture of the Greek Underworld, the residence of Hecate. Some scholars believe that Hecate was one such goddess. 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. This makes her the granddaughter of Phoebe and Coeus, both Titans. This does not influence our choices. She was the daughter of Perses and Asteria. Dogs also howl at the Moon, so this could be a link. 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. The hekataion depicted Hecate as three women encircling a central column. Corrections? Hecate was a goddess of boundaries and in between spaces. The myth says that Zeus gave the Lampades to Hera as a reward for her loyalty during the Titanomachy. She was accompanied by packs of barking dogs. She could not undo the curse, but she made the polecat her sacred servant. A: Hecate is the Greek Goddess of magic and witchcraft. 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. Although Hecate found Persephone, instead of rescuing her, she helped her settle into her new life as the bride of Hades. They claim she originated in Caria, a region in southern Anatolia on the Mediterranean, and was adopted into the Greek pantheon. Hecate was also known as the queen or Goddess of the night. 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. Hecate, however, took pity on Galinthias. 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. The goddess was especially appealed to by sorceresses for aid in their magic and spellsand appears on surviving examples of curse tablets. Her attributes, besides the torch, are the snake, whip, dagger, and sword. Small cakes made of eggs, cheese, bread, and dog meat were lit with tiny torches. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. She was most famously the goddess of magic, witchcraft, ghosts, necromancy, the Moon, and the night. She was the only child of the Titanes Perses and Asteria from whom she received her power over heaven, earth, and sea. On her head she sometimes wears a kalathos, a tall wicker basket, or a moon sickle. Apollo is often called Hekatos, the masculine form of his name. Regula, deTraci. Mythical Facts about Hecate Fact 1: Shrines to the goddess were placed at the doorways of homes and as protection from the dead and evil spirits. The duration ofa dark moonvaries between 1.5 and 3.5 days) to the crossroads. In aiding Demeter during her search for the missing Persephone and transfiguring Hecuba to spare her captivity or death she showed a level of compassion that might not be expected from an occult figure. 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. Anatolia, which covered most of what is now Turkey, was a region that had close ties to the Greek world. My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) It has been suggested that the idea of magic coming from Hecate was an evolution of the many gifts she was capable of bestowing upon her favorites. Proponents of this theory believe that this may have been the case with Hecate. Hecate is defined by her powerful magic, being at ease with the night and darkness and in wild surroundings. Hecate can banishghosts(or produce a ghost infestation). 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. Nearby homes similar to 755 Hecate Dr have recently sold between $204K to $212K at an average of $190 per square foot. Even though there arent many myths about the goddess Hecate, the ones that do exist tell us a lot about where she has power. 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. 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. Some later stories agreed that Asteria was her mother, but claimed Zeus had been her father. Hecate helps or protects warriors, athletes, hunters, horsemen, herders, shepherds, fishermen, and children. We know you don't want to miss any news or research breakthroughs.