Hekate assisted Demeter in her search for Persephone, guiding her through the night with flaming torches. It has been suggested that this arose from the use of watchdogs, particularly at night, to scare away intruders and warn their owners of danger. Victorian Era, Ibn Khaldun or Celts. She is often displayed holding two torches or a key. However, she is believed to be protective of human beings. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Hekate: A beginner's guide to witchcraft, ghosts, spirituality, and Hecate - Students | Britannica Kids | Homework Help The Tridevi The triad of goddesses in Hinduism often represents the three states of creation, preservation, and destruction. The crossroads are special places, places of great power, but at the same time haunting places. She could not be forced to love anyone. A: In Greek Mythology, Hecate was the Goddess of magic and witchcraft. Some authors say that she was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. Hecate Greek Goddess of Witchcraft : The Complete Guide. Hecate was believed to be a goddess of both the living world and the underworld. Hecate, however, is routinely described as the goddess of witchcraft and associated with characters like Medea and Circe, the witch of Homers Odyssey. Hekat) is the feminine form of hekatos, an epithet of the god Apollo meaning "the one who works from afar."But the true etymology of the name is uncertain. This does not influence our choices. She has also been associated with the dark side of human beings, which is death. Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. Hecate also has several temples where her shrine is worshipped. What are interesting facts about Hecate? - WisdomAnswer Who is Hecate? She was a goddess of magic and the underworld, but she was also a protector of the home and a guardian of borders. The most commonly repeated story of her birth was that Hecate was the daughter of Perses and Asteria, two second-generation Titans. According toHesiodin hisTheogony, Hecate is the daughter of Perses and Asteria, making her the granddaughter of the Titans Phoebe and Coeus. According to Hesiods Theogony, the Titans were the first Greek gods born of earth and the heavens. The Goddess Hecate is supposed to be the daughter of Perses, a Titan, and Asteria, a nymph. Anatolia, which covered most of what is now Turkey, was a region that had close ties to the Greek world. The time of the dark moon is a special time of the month to give offerings to Hecate. Share This Post. She's ill at ease in cities and civilization. Hecate was the goddess of borders, barriers, and boundaries. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. The things that make Hecate seem like an older woman are in the Pharsalia. Archaeologists have found essential offerings to the goddess at Lagina in Caria and Phrygia. She may be invoked for protection for dogs and from dogs. As worshippers began to focus on one aspect of a god more than others, that gods secondary purposes were separated into another deity altogether. The duration ofa dark moonvaries between 1.5 and 3.5 days) to the crossroads. Her group included the Lampades, the nymphs of the Underworld, and ghosts. A mysterious divinity, who, according to the most common tradition, was a daughter of Persaeus or Perses and Asteria, whence she is called Perseis.1 Others describe her as a daughter of Zeus and Demeter, and state that she was sent out by her father in search of Persephone;2 others again make her a daughter of Zeus either by Pheraea or by Hera;3 and others, lastly, say that she was a daughter of Leto or Tartarus.4 Homer does not mention her. 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. On an Attic vase from the 5th century BCE, a woman is shown giving a goddess a puppy and a basket of cakes. Hecate (also spelt Hekate) is a goddess capable of both good and evil. 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). 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. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. In fact she seems to have started out as Heket, the Egyptian Goddess of Childbirth. Contrary to popular current belief she wasnt originally a matron for women but for all who fit the above categories. She witnessed the abduction of Demeter's daughter Persephone to the underworld and, torch in hand, assisted in the search for her. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. 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. 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 took pity on her, though, and brought her back to life as a dog to be her companion. Hecate | Facts, Information, and Mythology Scholars think that the goddess arrived in Greece during the Archaic period. Hecate Triformis, Hecate of the three faces or three forms, corresponding to the phases of the moon: dark, waxing, and waning. Ft. 1302 Covington Ct, Virginia Beach, VA 23453. In a few cases, Hecate was said to have shared these powers with her most devoted followers. These three goddesses are also linked in the Mystery cults. This was a group started by May Otis Blackburn in Los Angeles, California. Such triple goddesses were common in ancient religions. Asteria may be the original goddess associated with the Asterion mountain range on the island of Crete. If you use any of the content on this page in your own work, please use the code below to cite this page as the source of the content. It is believed that Hecate represented witchcraft, magic and ghosts. She was known by her Roman name, Trivia, as well as by her triple form. 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 was born into the world ruled by the Titans, but continued to be influential and powerful in the Olympian pantheon. Hecate - Wikipedia 139.162.195.99 Story of Hecate 2 Beds. Historian Robert Graves notes that the heads could be distinctive of a dog, lion and horse, representing the constellations which cover the calendar year. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, creative tips and more. Hecate. 8 Best Crystals for Hecate (Important Facts) She was often shown holding two torches, such as would be found beside gates, to allow her to illuminate both sides of a boundary. 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. While some scholars attribute these displays as holding a dark side to Hecate, most myths associate her with a protective nature toward humans. Mother of Hermes: A Complete Guide to Maia Greek Goddess - MythologySource Hades was pleased with this, and Hecate was allowed to come and go as she pleased from the Underworld. Regula, deTraci. 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. Many of the traditional offerings to Hecate- are: milk, honey, oil, cakes, cheese, bloody meat, eggs, onions, garlic. Hecate is a Goddess shrouded in mystery, for there is continuing debate about Her name, origin and character. We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. Hecate is defined by her powerful magic, being at ease with the night and darkness and in wild surroundings. Scylla Greek Gods & Goddesses In Ancient Greek religion, Hecate had a wide range of godly tasks. Hecate Greek Goddess of Witchcraft: A Complete Guide (2022) Click to reveal 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. Persephone was married to Hades and was the queen of the Underworld. There might not be any figure in Greek mythology that is as misunderstood as Hecate. Tackling Hallucinations: Microsoft's LLM-Augmenter - medium.com Author: Hecate He | Editor: Michael Sarazen. Of course, as with many stories of Hecate there was also a darker version. Hecate was a complex, ancient goddess known to the Greeks but originally worshiped by people of Asia Minor*. Hecate Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster Lagina was one of the most important Carian sanctuaries.Hecate also has a strong connection with Georgia as well as throughout Italy. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. Intrinsically ambivalent and polymorphous, she straddles conventional boundaries and eludes definition. Hecate was variously associated with crossroads, entrance-ways, dogs, light, the moon, magic, witchcraft, knowledge of herbs and poisonous plants, ghosts, necromancy, and sorcery. Well send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out. Hecate: Greece's Dark Goddess of the Crossroads. Some later stories agreed that Asteria was her mother, but claimed Zeus had been her father. As a fertility deity she was invoked by women to aid conception and delivery. 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. She was the only child of the Titanes Perses and Asteria from whom she received her power over heaven, earth, and sea. Women also prayed to her for fertility and the birth of female children. Hecate: [noun] a Greek goddess associated especially with the underworld, night, and witchcraft. Most of the ceremonies and festivals dedicated to this Goddess were often celebrated at night. Diana | Myth, Goddess, & Cult | Britannica According to the Greek writer Hesiod*, Hecate was the daughter of the Titan* Perses and the nymph Asteria. She is often depicted carrying one or several torches to remind of her connection with the night and insculpturewith three faces, representing her role as the guardian of crossroads. Related Topics: greek. 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. Her origins and powers were unexplained and changeable. Please like and share this article if you found it useful. 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. The three-part goddess was able to keep watch in all directions, and became standard in both written and visual representations. Hecate was believed to be a goddess of both the living world and the underworld. 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). Hesiod goes on to say that the goddess supports warriors, athletes, hunters, horsemen, herdsmen, shepherds, fishermen, and children. Some speculate that it represents the full moon, half moon, and new moon. Although Hecate found Persephone, instead of rescuing her, she helped her settle into her new life as the bride of Hades. Hecate typically responds to petitions via visions and dreams. 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). There is evidence that this may have been the case with Hecate. In single form she appears on Greek vases and coins. Although they combined her with Diana and Artemis, the Romans also worshipped this deity, referred to her as Trivia, which means three ways. 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. Due to her magical powers, Hecate was believed to protect children, sailors, and shepherds. Hecate is the goddess of witchcraft and was specifically known for her herbal knowledge. Quite often each face is different, one of a dog, one of a horse and one of a goddess. Hecate is the daughter of Perses and Asteria. 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. There are many other interesting facts about Hecate as pointed out by philosophers and researchers. Hecate has the power to grant or deny any mortals wish. One of her epithets, Apotropaia, references the protection she gave in these spaces. In fact, Hecate might have been another goddess altogether! 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. The Egyptian fertility goddess Heqet was associated with magic, which the Egyptians called heqa. Hecate is petitioned for fertility, especially for female children. One sculpture depicts Hecate with a friendly dog and another with heads of a cow, dog, boar, serpent or horse. She was also the goddess of the Oikos and the guardian of its entrances. The triple Hecate represented three aspects of a single goddess. Her considerable power over nature ensured her continued popularity, but she's never fitted in with the crowd. Hecate - goddess of ghosts, witchcraft & magic - Religious Talks The most popular theory is that the Carians in Asia Minor brought Hecate to Greece, where she became a part of their religion. Classical scholars have differing views about where the worship of Hecate in Ancient Greece came from. 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. 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 dog was so closely tied to her than in many ancient stories people could hear the howling and barking of her sacred animal when her magic was used nearby. Hectate has neither spouse nor children. From the Greek word for to turn away, apotropaic magic is that which defends by turning away evil or harm. 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. But Hecate is not the evil hag that popular legend suggests. Hecates name comes from the Greek word hekatos, which means worker from afar.. As a result, the goddess of magic remained a major deity in regulating evil spirits in the Underworld. Hecate was a goddess of boundaries and in between spaces. At doorways and crossroads, pillars of the goddess Hecate, who held a torch, stood. Eating crunchy while enjoying a good movie or your favourite video game is a blessing. 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. She is invoked for justice, especially for sexual crimes against women and girls. In ancient times the crossroads didnt have our modern symbolism as a place of choices. These statues took on a distinctive appearance. Her symbols were two torches, the crossroads, and black dogs. From the three supposedly came her image in Greek . Hecate: The Goddess of Witchcraft in Greek Mythology Your privacy is important to us. The various statues have also raised questions as to her duties. The first sculpture of Hecate in triple form was the (lost) statue by Alcamenes (fifth century BCE) at the Acropolis. 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. 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. Hecate | Infoplease - Fact Monster She is also said to be the Goddess of childbirth and the protector of children. This is how she came to command the earth, bliss . IT WAS A COMMON PRACTICE TO PLACE IMAGES OF HECATE ATCITYGATES & THE DOORWAYS OF PRIVATE HOMES AS SHE COULD WARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS. They claim she originated in Caria, a region in southern Anatolia on the Mediterranean, and was adopted into the Greek pantheon. She is believed to visit the Underworld to help other gods and people who were outcasts due to fear. The people of Sparta claimed that Ares had been nursed by a nymph called Thero. Like her Greek counterpart, she was also a goddess of domestic animals. And the dark moon is also a powerful time to cleanse you, from negative energy, negative influences or potentially harmful spirits. 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. Picture of the Greek Underworld, the residence of Hecate. During the Romans, many of her traits belonged to the world of the dead. Her parentage was given differently by various writers. Earlier, though, there may have been fewer gods with more complex functions. ThoughtCo, Dec. 6, 2021, thoughtco.com/greek-mythology-hecate-1526205. 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. The Twelve Olympian Gods and Goddesses of Greek Mythology, Fast Facts on Helios - Greek God of the Sun, 10 Fast Facts on Athena and Her Parthenon, The Story of Nike, the Greek Goddess of Victory, The Greek God Hades, Lord of the Underworld, Fascinating Stories About the Greek God Cronos, Marzanna, Slavic Goddess of Death and Winter, The Greek Mythology of Clash of the Titans. We offer advice and practical, interactive ideas to help parents challenge, teach and develop their childrens skills at home. Hecate Triodos is the specific aspect presiding over crossroads. 1,178 Sq. The Lampades are people who carry torches and travel with the goddess at night. She acted as a sort of guardian because she watched over the places that allowed passage into homes, cities, or even states. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong. She held several different roles, including earth goddess, queen of the underworld, and goddess of magic and witchcraft.. She was also associated with some of the most revered and respected goddesses of Olympus. Some versions of Scylla's myth say she was once a beautiful sea nymph. The blessings she gave them were eventually seen as magic, while prayers were seen as incantations. The Greek goddess Hecate, or Hekate, is Greece's dark goddess of the crossroads. Follow for more great fun learning. 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. Because of this, some people would make sacrifices of dogs, especially puppies, to her. However, she was transformed by Circe into the monster form. Hesiod claimed that Hecate was a favorite of Zeus . Persis and Asteria, two Titans from the generation of deities prior to the Olympians, are the legendary parents of Hecate. 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. This was all about Hecate, a goddess in ancient Greek religion. While Hera was considered a singular being, she was given three names to represent her different stages in life maiden, wife, and mother. 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's also the Queen of Witches. Hecate helps or protects warriors, athletes, hunters, horsemen, herders, shepherds, fishermen, and children. She is described in this capacity as a mighty and formidable divinity, ruling over the souls of the departed; she is the goddess of purifications and expiations, and is accompanied by Stygian dogs.11 By Phorcys she became the mother of Scylla.12, There is another very important feature which arose out of the notion of her being an infernal divinity, namely, she was regarded as a spectral being, who at night sent from the lower world all kinds of demons and terrible phantoms, who taught sorcery and witchcraft, who dwelt at places where two roads crossed each other, on tombs, and near the blood of murdered persons.