Hecate has the power to grant or deny any mortals wish. What Were the Hamadryads in Greek Mythology? Due to her dark attributes, this deity has often been associated with the Underworld. Your IP: The myth says that Zeus gave the Lampades to Hera as a reward for her loyalty during the Titanomachy. On the other hand, Euripides says that Leto is her mother. As you may already know Hecateis a goddess ofGreek mythologywho was capable of both good and evil. It is the story of how the polecat became one of her companions. ThoughtCo. Study medicinal and magical herbalism and become one of Hecate's priestesses. Hecate is a Goddess shrouded in mystery, for there is continuing debate about Her name, origin and character. Some later stories agreed that Asteria was her mother, but claimed Zeus had been her father. 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. On an Attic vase from the 5th century BCE, a woman is shown giving a goddess a puppy and a basket of cakes. Contrary to popular current belief she wasnt originally a matron for women but for all who fit the above categories. She was born into the world ruled by the Titans, but continued to be influential and powerful in the Olympian pantheon. The Moirai crossed their arms and Eileithyia refused to help the laboring woman. 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. The worship of Hecate continued into theHellenisticandRomanperiods with significant archaeological finds of votive offerings to the goddess being found at Lagina in Caria andPhrygia. The Goddess Hecate is supposed to be the daughter of Perses, a Titan, and Asteria, a nymph. Hecate was weaved strongly into all these symbolisms of the crossroads and still does to her devotees. Athenian Greeks used the evening meal, known as Deipnon, to honor Hecate. The iconography had not yet come to include her usual attributes, such as her keys and torches or her three aspects. Not only could she move between the realms, but she had power to control the passage of others. In Aeschylus Suppliants, for example, they were often mixed up to make a goddess with two faces. 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. The cave and the dawn are both thresholds- liminal times, thresholds between the earth and the underworld and night and day. 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. 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 was also linked to a lot of other goddesses from other pantheons. She rules wisdom, choices, expiation, victory, vengeance, and travel. Quite often warriors worshipped the goddess Hecate just as readily. She is often displayed holding two torches or a key. 2 Beds. Hecate the goddess of Greek mythology has been primarily remembered for her associations with magic and witchcraft. As these stories were passed on, though, they often changed. Hecate hugged the girl when Persephone was reunited with her mother, Demeter. By joining Kidadl you agree to Kidadls Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receiving marketing communications from Kidadl. 1.5 Baths. The Greeks likewise borrowed many deities and legends from their eastern neighbors. Some authors say that she was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. There might not be any figure in Greek mythology that is as misunderstood as Hecate. 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. the Jinn or Genie-good, bad or simply Goetic spirits of another name? 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. This food offering was known as the Supper of Hecate. They were often associated with the three stages of life youth, adulthood, and old age. The Egyptian fertility goddess Heqet was associated with magic, which the Egyptians called heqa. But she isnt in the Homeric epics, which is a big deal. The darkness, the moon, and magic have been personified as Hecate in many popular and well-known works of literature and in art. Like her Greek counterpart, she was also a goddess of domestic animals. 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. 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. They call her Aristaion or Night. All Rights Reserved, Ancient Egyptians The First Woman Pharaoh, A Crunchy Pistachios Tale: 13 Interesting Facts About These Salty Munchies. She was a goddess that could be both a protective guardian and a source of menace. The evening meal in ancient Greece, especially in Athens known as Deipnon, was in honor of Hecate. This article incorporates text from Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) by William Smith, which is in the public domain. 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. 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. 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 . While Hecates temples in the area are from a later period, she bears a resemblance to a more ancient goddess in Caria. Hecate is the goddess of witchcraft and was specifically known for her herbal knowledge. Anatolia, which covered most of what is now Turkey, was a region that had close ties to the Greek world. 139.162.195.99 My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) And there is a good book titled Hekate liminal rites By David Rankine and Sorite DEsteyou should check out. Persephone was married to Hades and was the queen of the Underworld. Some depictions show the Goddess with the head of a dog, horse, and lion, which could be the constellations during the year. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong. Hecate is petitioned for fertility, especially for female children. Because of this, some people would make sacrifices of dogs, especially puppies, to her. Writings throughout the centuries have woven different tales about Hecate and her role as a goddess. She is helping a dog attack a giant who looks like a snake. Earlier, though, there may have been fewer gods with more complex functions. Hecate was a goddess of boundaries and in between spaces. This made her one of the few deities to have the power to move freely between the world of the living and the underworld. Hecate was an only child and was worshiped in households of Athens where families hoped to receive protection, prosperity and daily blessings. Hectate is derived from the Greek word 'hekatos,' which 'means worker from afar.' They spun the threads of fate at the base of. These three goddesses are also linked in the Mystery cults. To learn more about other Goddesses and exciting information, keep visiting on LearningMole. Greeks likewise borrowed many deities and legends. The Greek goddess Hecate, or Hekate, is Greece's dark goddess of the crossroads. As a protector of the Oikos (home), like Zeus, Hestia, Hermes, and Apollo, the goddess is usually shown holding a set of keys or torches, which she is said to have used to help or stop people from entering cities and homes. "Worker-from-afar." 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. Latin Spelling. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. During the time of the Romans, Hecate was often combined with the gods Artemis and Selene, especially in Roman poetry. As punishment, she was transformed into a dog to be the companion of Hecate. What Were the Hamadryads in Greek Mythology? First 6 Months for 1.99 with Monthly Student and Teacher Plans Dismiss, 2022 Learning Mole. As a result, the goddess of magic remained a major deity in regulating evil spirits in the Underworld. The Tridevi The triad of goddesses in Hinduism often represents the three states of creation, preservation, and destruction. Hecate hkt, hkt , in Greek religion and mythology, goddess of ghosts and witchcraft. Her tasks went beyond the heavens, the earth, the seas, and the Underworld. A further canine connection may be with theEgyptiangodAnubiswho guided souls to the underworld, and the Greek three-headed hound ofHades, Cerberus, may be an earlier form of Hecate. The goddess Hecate is one of the Greek goddesses that not many people know about. Good is she also when men contend at the games, for there too the goddess is with them and profits them and to those whose business is in the grey discomfortable sea, and who pray to Hekate and the loud-crashing Earth-Shaker [Poseidon], easily the glorious goddess gives great catch, and easily she takes it away as soon as seen, if so she will. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. She was a goddess of magic and the underworld, but she was also a protector of the home and a guardian of borders. Hecate's powers transcended the boundaries of the sky, the earth, the seas, and the underworld. 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. A mysterious goddess of sorcery, necromancy, and ghosts, Greek Goddess Hecate is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing characters in all of Greek mythology! DeTraci Regula is a freelance writer who has specialized in Greek travel and tours for 18 years. The goddess had a lot of powers, some of which were later taken over by other gods. She is sometimes shown holding a key. You may like to light incense such as the smoke of wormwood, cypress and lavender in these offerings. Intrinsically ambivalent and polymorphous, she straddles conventional boundaries and eludes definition. Hecate may be invoked for healing, especially if medical solutions have failed or are not an option. According to Theogony. In her form as a triple goddess, Hecate was closely linked to intersections. We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. Moving between the barrier between life and death explains Hecates connection to both ghosts and necromancy. The Egyptian god Anubis, who led souls to the Underworld, may also have something to do with dogs. She held several different roles, including earth goddess, queen of the underworld, and goddess of magic and witchcraft.. 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. Due to her magical powers, Hecate was believed to protect children, sailors, and shepherds. This garden would've contained her sacred trees, herbs and poisons. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. This myth led to goddess Hecate being depicted with torches in her hand. As worshippers began to focus on one aspect of a god more than others, that gods secondary purposes were separated into another deity altogether. 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. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. In the sources about Hekate that are from the ancient world, the crossroads are not mentioned as a symbol of Hecate. Both goddesses were usually shown with dogs by their sides, wearing hunting boots and carrying torches. The goddess was also worshipped in Kos, Erythrai, Samothrace, Thessaly, and Miletos. This article contains incorrect information, This article doesnt have the information Im looking for. The beginnings of Hecates worship are shrouded in mystery. Many historians believe that the Greek pantheon was once much smaller than we know it today. When Persephone was abducted to the underworld by Hades, Hecate was the only witness willing to help Demeter search for her daughter. Tzetzes on Lycophron, 1175; Scholiast on Theocritus, ii, 36. When you buy through the links on our site we may earn a commission. Further, the home would be blessed and any wrong-doing by family members would be forgiven and the household purified. She is depicted on the altar of Pergamon with one body and three heads (ca. This is especially ironic since, after this, she seems to have become more associated with the underworld, not less. Hecate Triodos is the specific aspect presiding over crossroads. 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. During the Romans, many of her traits belonged to the world of the dead. Hecate is portrayed in single form on sculptures of Myron and Naucydes. 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). Polecats hid in dirty holes and, it was believed by the Greeks, had a grotesque and unnatural way of mating. The well-known Pergamon Altar (from around the 2nd century BCE) shows Hecate as three different things. Hecate is known to rule over the sky, the earth, and the sea. Apollo is often called Hekatos, the masculine form of his name. Hecate also has several temples where her shrine is worshipped. Hecate is often depicted with three heads as she was called the Goddess of the Crossroads. The name "Hecate" (Greek , translit. Her attributes, besides the torch, are the snake, whip, dagger, and sword. 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. Most of all, Hecate was a goddess of mystery. Hecate has been referenced in various literary works, including the plays by Sophocles and Euripides. . Scholars think that the goddess arrived in Greece during the Archaic period. Learning Mole focuses on educating children of all ages in key skills of Maths, English and learning through crafts. Hecate rules over the night, magic, and places where three roads meet. Hecate was a complex, ancient goddess known to the Greeks but originally worshiped by people of Asia Minor*. They are passionate about turning your everyday moments into memories and bringing you inspiring ideas to have fun with your family. Since the fifth century BCE, Hecate has been associated with magic, witchcraft, the moon, and other dark influences. The duration ofa dark moonvaries between 1.5 and 3.5 days) to the crossroads. They believed that by praising the goddess, the restless dead would be soothed and not deliver vengeance on the family. 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.