Originally she seems to have been an extremely powerful and benevolent goddess, identified with three other goddessesSelene (in heaven), Artemis (on earth), and Persephone (in the underworld). Hecate could give her worshipers wealth and blessings, but she could also take them away if they didnt worship her well enough. The Furies, winged creatures who punished wrongdoing, were also said to be the companions of Hecate. This was all about Hecate, a goddess in ancient Greek religion. HEKATE (Hecate) was the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy. Her main jobs were to control boundaries, witchcraft, and the Underworld. According to them, Hecate is known to support bravery and hence encourage soldiers, warriors, athletes, etc. Her name has been connected to dark magic and disturbing rituals in the works of Shakespeare and well into modern times. They call her Aristaion or Night. Hecate may be invoked for healing, especially if medical solutions have failed or are not an option. What Were the Hamadryads in Greek Mythology? They are associated with certain ideas, occupations, or stages of life. She was also the goddess of the Oikos and the guardian of its entrances. By the first century CE, Lucans Pharsalia made it clear that Hecate was the goddess of magic and witchcraft. HEKATE (Hecate) was the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy. The worship of Hecate continued into theHellenisticandRomanperiods with significant archaeological finds of votive offerings to the goddess being found at Lagina in Caria andPhrygia. By joining Kidadl you agree to Kidadls Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receiving marketing communications from Kidadl. Like Hermes, who was also a deity of liminal spaces, statues of Hecate were often placed at crossroads and borders. A popular story among the Greeks was that the dog that accompanied Hecate was the Trojan queen Hecuba. 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. It is unclear why this change took place. The evening meal in ancient Greece, especially in Athens known as Deipnon, was in honor of Hecate. Proponents of this theory believe that this may have been the case with Hecate. Parents: Perses (and Asteria) or Zeus and Asteria (a second-generation Titan) or Nyx (Night) or Aristaios or Demeter (see Theoi Hecate) She could not undo the curse, but she made the polecat her sacred servant. The Goddess Hecate is supposed to be the daughter of Perses, a Titan, and Asteria, a nymph. Hecate appears in many plays and poems as the personification of darkness, the moon, and magic. It even appears in Christianity, with the gospels placing three Marys at both the Crucifixion and Christs tomb. This does not influence our choices. She witnessed the abduction of Demeters daughter Persephone to the underworld and, torch in hand, assisted in the search for her. Hecate was the chief goddess presiding over magic and spells. Offerings to this Goddess were also made during the night of the new moon. The most commonly repeated story of her birth was that Hecate was the daughter of Perses and Asteria, two second-generation Titans. Not only could she move between the realms, but she had power to control the passage of others. In the Pharsalia, the witch Erichtho calls on Persephone as the lowest part of Hecate. Hekate assisted Demeter in her search for Persephone, guiding her through the night with flaming torches. The Moirai, or Fates, were one such trio of goddesses. The Greeks likewise borrowed many deities and legends from their eastern neighbors. In fact she seems to have started out as Heket, the Egyptian Goddess of Childbirth. Interesting facts: Hestia was one of three goddesses immune to the influence of Aphrodite. This could mean that the goddess didnt come to Greece from Caria until a relatively late date. In the writings of Hesiod, Hecate is the daughter of the Titan Perses and the nymph Asteria. She was born into the world ruled by the Titans, but continued to be influential and powerful in the Olympian pantheon. We know you don't want to miss any news or research breakthroughs. Regula, deTraci. The necromancers not only conjured the spirits of the dead on nightly cemeteries but also on the crossroads, the leftovers from spells are buried on the crossroads in many magical traditions and in many religions it is believed that the spirits are lingering on the crossroads. Some versions of Scylla's myth say she was once a beautiful sea nymph. This grouping of the goddesses happens again in Aristophanes Frogs (1358f) when Aeschylus character calls on the goddesses. Of course, as with many stories of Hecate there was also a darker version. Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. They spun the threads of fate at the base of. She rules wisdom, choices, expiation, victory, vengeance, and travel. Most of the ceremonies and festivals dedicated to this Goddess were often celebrated at night. On Greek pottery, she is usually shown as a young woman holding a torch or a key. She was the ruler of crossroads, entrances, nighttime, light, magic (witchcraft and sorcery), herbs and plants. Greek pantheon was once much smaller than we know. The Greek three-headed hound of Hades, Cerberus, may have been an earlier version of Hecate. As a protective goddess, it was common for statuettes of Hecate to be placed in the doorways of homes in Greece in the hopes that she would intervene to prevent bad fortune from passing in. Hecate was also known as the queen or Goddess of the night. The darkness, the moon, and magic have been personified as Hecate in many popular and well-known works of literature and in art. She is helping a dog attack a giant who looks like a snake. The Lampades are people who carry torches and travel with the goddess at night. Intrinsically ambivalent and polymorphous, she straddles conventional boundaries and eludes definition. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. 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. Share This Post. 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. Asteria may be the original goddess associated with the Asterion mountain range on the island of Crete. Hecate (Hekate) is the goddess of boundaries and guardian of crossroads; she is often shown with three faces and carrying a torch to show her connection to the night. She is also associated with the moon and is sometimes depicted as having three faces which symbolize the waxing, waning, and full moon phases. Because she was associated with borders, gates, and doorways, Hecate took on a protective role. At least one story, however, gives the goddess a much more human origin. 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. She is believed to visit the Underworld to help other gods and people who were outcasts due to fear. She was accompanied by packs of barking dogs. She is also said to be the Goddess of childbirth and the protector of children. Hecate: [noun] a Greek goddess associated especially with the underworld, night, and witchcraft. Although they combined her with Diana and Artemis, the Romans also worshipped this deity, referred to her as Trivia, which means three ways. 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. She was often shown holding two torches, such as would be found beside gates, to allow her to illuminate both sides of a boundary. DeTraci Regula is a freelance writer who has specialized in Greek travel and tours for 18 years. A: This Greek Goddess is often considered to be capable of both good and evil. Hecate is invoked when justice is not forthcoming from other channels. Eating crunchy while enjoying a good movie or your favourite video game is a blessing. The triple Hecate represented three aspects of a single goddess. However, she is believed to be protective of human beings. . SOLD JUN 15, 2022. Small cakes made of eggs, cheese, bread, and dog meat were lit with tiny torches. Local sun goddesses from before the Greek era have many of the same attributes as those later associated with Hecate. According to the Greek writer Hesiod*, Hecate was the daughter of the Titan* Perses and the nymph Asteria. In sculptures from the Classical and Hellenistic Periods, Hecate has been shown as a woman with three bodies or a single body with three heads. The Hades and Persephone Story. But Hekate was in this time also connected to liminality. IT WAS A COMMON PRACTICE TO PLACE IMAGES OF HECATE ATCITYGATES & THE DOORWAYS OF PRIVATE HOMES AS SHE COULD WARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS. Contrary to popular current belief she wasnt originally a matron for women but for all who fit the above categories. Regula, deTraci. 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. She is the witness to every crime. Hecate was an only child and was worshiped in households of Athens where families hoped to receive protection, prosperity and daily blessings. The boundaries she oversaw were not limited to the physical world, though. Hecate is portrayed in single form on sculptures of Myron and Naucydes. The masculine form of this word is said to be used for Apollo, one of the Greek gods. She was made to look like a goddess who could easily move from the Underworld to the real world. Hecate doesnt often appear in Greek art and writing until the 5th century BCE. Her friends are the Erinyes, winged creatures that punish bad behaviour, and her children are the Empusae, female demons that like to seduce travellers. Like her Greek counterpart, she was also a goddess of domestic animals. 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. Lycophron, 77; Scholiast on Aristophanes'. Her priests are normally accompanied by hell hounds sent by their goddess to guard her temples. The Carians were devoted to Hecate, and she was the primary deity worshipped in the town of Lagina. Etymology. In fact, the earliest depictions of Hecate can only be differentiated from those of Artemis by inscriptions. 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. Lastly, the goddess is mentioned in the tragedies of Euripides and Sophocles, among others. 1.5 Baths. 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. You then connect yourself to her through visualizing and forming a mental image of her presence, you then thank her and pray to her. As worshippers began to focus on one aspect of a god more than others, that gods secondary purposes were separated into another deity altogether. People used to believe that dogs would eat the dead if they werent buried. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. 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). 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. Updates? This made her one of the few deities to have the power to move freely between the world of the living and the underworld. In revenge for the trick, Eileithyia turned Galinthias into a polecat. Hecate is a goddess of life, death, regeneration, and magic. Hecate was a goddess of boundaries and in between spaces. She witnessed the abduction of Demeter's daughter Persephone to the underworld and, torch in hand, assisted in the search for her. Some speculate that it represents the full moon, half moon, and new moon. Female monsters also often came in threes, as was the case with the Gorgons and Graea. She was often placed at the entrance of homes to help protect against the evil forces of the world. 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. She convinced her daughter Eiliethyia, the goddess of childbirth, and the Moirai, the Fates, to prevent the birth. 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. Lagina was one of the most important Carian sanctuaries.Hecate also has a strong connection with Georgia as well as throughout Italy. Some authors say that she was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. Nearby homes similar to 755 Hecate Dr have recently sold between $204K to $212K at an average of $190 per square foot. Women also prayed to her for fertility and the birth of female children. Still another school of thought links her, at least linguistically, to Egypt. Names derived from hers were common, including Hecatomnus, the father of the ruler Mausolus who built the famous tomb. She is invoked for justice, especially for sexual crimes against women and girls. Even in descriptions of Medeas witchcraft, it is difficult to distinguish magical rituals from more standard worship and rites. They gave mortals wealth, victory, wisdom and luck. The food offered to this deity included cheese, cakes of eggs, and a dish of red mullet. The goddess was given gifts every month on the night of a new moon. She is sometimes shown holding a key. 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. What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. Origin and Family Persis and Asteria, two Titans from the generation of deities prior to the Olympians, are the legendary parents of Hecate. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Meanwhile, others believe she is the progeny of Hecate and Phorcys. 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. Thus, pillars called Hecataea stood at crossroads and doorways, perhaps to keep away evil spirits. These primordial gods each represented a different aspect of existence, together they formed the building blocks of the early universe. Hectate is derived from the Greek word 'hekatos,' which 'means worker from afar.' There are few legends about Her, and no fixed genealogy. She's also the Queen of Witches. There are cult sites for the goddess Hecate in Caria, which shows that people there worshipped her. Your privacy is important to us. Ft. 1302 Covington Ct, Virginia Beach, VA 23453. Hesiod, for example, seemed to hold in in high regard and makes no mention of this darker association. 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. Hecate typically responds to petitions via visions and dreams. Hecates name comes from the Greek word hekatos, which means worker from afar.. Hecate was also linked to a lot of other goddesses from other pantheons. She is often displayed holding two torches or a key. 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. One of these was the supper of Hecate, where food was left at crossroads, road junctions, and any other kind of boundary or threshold. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content. In ancient times the crossroads didnt have our modern symbolism as a place of choices. According to Hesiods Theogony, the Titans were the first Greek gods born of earth and the heavens. Sometimes, as was the case with Hecate, it was a single goddess who was shown with three aspects. 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. In many cultures and religions in many lands. During the time of the Romans, Hecate was often combined with the gods Artemis and Selene, especially in Roman poetry. These crystals possess unique energies and properties that enhance spiritual practices and aid connections with Hecate. Hecate was variously associated with crossroads, entrance-ways, dogs, light, the moon, magic, witchcraft, knowledge of herbs and poisonous plants, ghosts, necromancy, and sorcery. She was the only child of the Titanes Perses and Asteria from whom she received her power over heaven, earth, and sea. Hecate has been referenced in various literary works, including the plays by Sophocles and Euripides. This is how she came to command the earth, bliss . Other writers claim her as the daughter ofZeusandDemeter, Aristaion. She can be a shadowy, oblique goddess: her response may be subtle. Carole Raddato/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 2.0. She was the only child of the Titanes Perses and Asteria from whom she received her power over heaven, earth, and sea. The myth says that Zeus gave the Lampades to Hera as a reward for her loyalty during the Titanomachy. Hecate or Hekate [a] is a goddess in ancient Greek religion and mythology, most often shown holding a pair of torches, a key, snakes, or accompanied by dogs, [1] and in later periods depicted as three-formed or triple-bodied. While some scholars attribute these displays as holding a dark side to Hecate, most myths associate her with a protective nature toward humans. https://www.thoughtco.com/greek-mythology-hecate-1526205 (accessed March 4, 2023). Archaeologists have found essential offerings to the goddess at Lagina in Caria and Phrygia. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Her attributes, besides the torch, are the snake, whip, dagger, and sword. First 6 Months for 1.99 with Monthly Student and Teacher Plans Dismiss, 2022 Learning Mole. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, In the Greek religion, strange rituals were done to honour the goddess. This makes her the granddaughter of Phoebe and Coeus, both Titans. 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.
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