facts about hecate
Share This Post. Hecate is invoked when justice is not forthcoming from other channels. Seneca often talks about Hecate and her moon-based counterparts and even links Medea to the goddess. (2021, December 6). The boundaries she oversaw were not limited to the physical world, though. 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. Hecate: [noun] a Greek goddess associated especially with the underworld, night, and witchcraft. Hecate Triodos is the specific aspect presiding over crossroads. As such, she was greatly honored by Zeus, who allowed her to operate on Earth, as well as the sky and the Underworld. She was the daughter of Perses and Asteria. In addition to magic and witchcraft, Hecate was also considered to be the Goddess of crossroads, gates, and ghosts. These primordial gods each represented a different aspect of existence, together they formed the building blocks of the early universe. 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. A goddess of crossroads, magic, poison, and the undead, Hecate was also the daughter of the Titan Perses and the nymph Asteria, according to Hesiod. In a few cases, Hecate was said to have shared these powers with her most devoted followers. Instead, some believe that the goddess originated in Asia Minor. People believed that by honoring and praying to this Goddess, their homes would be preserved from the vengeance of the dead. Corrections? Contrary to popular current belief she wasnt originally a matron for women but for all who fit the above categories. The beginnings of Hecates worship are shrouded in mystery. Her companions are known to punish wrong doing and criminals. Was the Griffin a Bird from Greek Mythology? 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. Hecate is one of the many goddesses in Greek mythology. Hecate was believed to be a goddess of both the living world and the underworld. 6 Amazing facts about Hecate | High-Percentage-Magick Some poets say her mother is Crataeis. 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. People left the food there to honor Hecate. Both goddesses were usually shown with dogs by their sides, wearing hunting boots and carrying torches. Your privacy is important to us. SOLD JUN 14, 2022. Her origins and powers were unexplained and changeable. Hecate Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster It is unclear exactly when Hecate became so closely linked with magic and witchcraft. It was said that she learned herbalism and spells from Hecate herself. Hesiod goes on to say that the goddess supports warriors, athletes, hunters, horsemen, herdsmen, shepherds, fishermen, and children. A mysterious goddess of sorcery, necromancy, and ghosts, Greek Goddess Hecate is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing characters in all of Greek mythology! They were often associated with the three stages of life youth, adulthood, and old age. 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 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. Hecate is the daughter of Perses and Asteria. Numerous smaller sculptures of Hecate remain in which the goddess appears as three separate women, wearing chitons, with the backs pressed against a pillar. However. This article incorporates text from Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) by William Smith, which is in the public domain. Hecate was also linked to a lot of other goddesses from other pantheons. The aspects of the goddess that had darker connotations were separated from her to create another goddess altogether in the character of Hecate. ThoughtCo, Dec. 6, 2021, thoughtco.com/greek-mythology-hecate-1526205. According to her story, Hecate sometimes withheld these blessings if she felt mortals did not deserve them. Many people think that worshipping the goddess began before the Greeks, while others think it started in Thrace. 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 . Some speculate that it represents the full moon, half moon, and new moon. Greek pantheon was once much smaller than we know. You may like to light incense such as the smoke of wormwood, cypress and lavender in these offerings. Posted by 7thphoenix | May 27, 2020 | Magick Articles | 0 |. She has long been associated with witchcraft and the occult, even necromancy. The Moirai crossed their arms and Eileithyia refused to help the laboring woman. They are sometimes represented with the familiar aspects of the maiden, mother, and crone. We offer advice and practical, interactive ideas to help parents challenge, teach and develop their childrens skills at home. The food offered to this deity included cheese, cakes of eggs, and a dish of red mullet. Although they combined her with Diana and Artemis, the Romans also worshipped this deity, referred to her as Trivia, which means three ways. The things that make Hecate seem like an older woman are in the Pharsalia. 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. Hekate: A beginner's guide to witchcraft, ghosts, spirituality, and Interesting facts: Hestia was one of three goddesses immune to the influence of Aphrodite. the Jinn or Genie-good, bad or simply Goetic spirits of another name? Another story of Hecates protective nature also involves another of her sacred animals. Hecate became Persephones guardian and close friend while she was living in the Underworld. She was also associated with some of the most revered and respected goddesses of 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. 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. Each of the Greek gods has a few specialized functions. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a28cb13cce875e3 Learning Mole focuses on educating children of all ages in key skills of Maths, English and learning through crafts. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. Regula, deTraci. Hecate was also offered the sacrifice of dogs, especially puppies. 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. Her parentage was given differently by various writers. As was already said, the dog was Hecates most holy animal. This is how she came to command the earth, bliss . 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 could be because she sided with him during the 10-year battle between the Titans and the Olympians. Archaeological items found in Lagina in Caria and Phrygia also point to the importance of this Goddess during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. She was not portrayed as being loving towards children but as someone who took revenge against anyone that harmed children. One of her epithets, Apotropaia, references the protection she gave in these spaces. According to Theogony. Women also prayed to her for fertility and the birth of female children. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/greek-mythology-hecate-1526205. The Greek goddess Hecate, or Hekate, is Greece's dark goddess of the crossroads. Hecate may be invoked for healing, especially if medical solutions have failed or are not an option. At least one story, however, gives the goddess a much more human origin. However, she is believed to be protective of human beings. Many Anatolian gods had their roots in the Greek pantheon. Due to her dark attributes, this deity has often been associated with the Underworld. 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. The Goddess Hecate is supposed to be the daughter of Perses, a Titan, and Asteria, a nymph. Hecate is petitioned for fertility, especially for female children. She is good in the byre with Hermes to increase the stock. 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. Most likely, the cults of Thessalian Pherai (Pherae) and Eleusis saw Hekate as Chthonian (Underworld) Hermess wife. 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. This myth led to goddess Hecate being depicted with torches in her hand. Hecate is often depicted with three heads as she was called the Goddess of the Crossroads. A statue called Hekate Epipyrgidia (On the Ramparts) stood at the Athens Acropolis entrance. As the worship of Artemis evolved over time, the Greeks began to focus more on her purity and positive aspects. The goddess was especially appealed to by sorceresses for aid in their magic and spellsand appears on surviving examples of curse tablets. The name "Hecate" (Greek , translit. The parentage of Scylla is hotly debated. She is not a typical one-dimensional goddess but lives on many different levels. 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. Selenite, tiger's eye, obsidian, rhodochrosite, jet, jasper, agate, and amber are the most suited crystals for Hecate. 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. Seeing her friend in pain, Galinthias tricked the Moirai into thinking the child had been born despite their interference. Article created on Monday, March 3, 1997. The Charites (Graces) and Horai (Seasons) were also trios of minor goddesses in Greek mythology. When Persephone was abducted to the underworld by Hades, Hecate was the only witness willing to help Demeter search for her daughter. Sorceresses ask the goddess for help with their magic and spells, and she is shown on curse tablets that have survived. The best of the LearningMole geography tutorials. Hecate was the chief goddess presiding over magic and spells. Scylla Greek Gods & Goddesses Due to her magical powers, Hecate was believed to protect children, sailors, and shepherds. It is unclear why this change took place. When Alcmene was in labor with Heracles, Hera attempted to stop the childs birth. Her tasks went beyond the heavens, the earth, the seas, and the Underworld. Hecate acted as a veil between the world of the mortals and the supernatural. And the dark moon is also a powerful time to cleanse you, from negative energy, negative influences or potentially harmful spirits. In single form she appears on Greek vases and coins. 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). This was a terrible fate. Hecate also has several temples where her shrine is worshipped. It is believed that Hecate represented witchcraft, magic and ghosts. HECATE (Hekate) - Greek Goddess of Witchcraft, Magic & Ghosts - Theoi She was the only child of the Titanes Perses and Asteria from whom she received her power over heaven, earth, and sea. Hecate is portrayed in single form on sculptures of Myron and Naucydes. Click to reveal Apollo is often called Hekatos, the masculine form of his name. She was both a product of the Titans and an honored member of Zeuss court at Olympus. She is also mentioned in Aeneid, a play by Virgil where she guides one of the characters, Sibyl, in the Underworld. 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. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. Carole Raddato/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 2.0. She was also bound to other goddesses in a closely-linked trio. 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 is the Goddess of witchcraft, magic, crossroads, ghosts and necromancy. Her name was derived from the Greek word hekatos which means worker from afar. She would go with Persephone to the Underworld every year when the girl returned to Hades. The time of the dark moon is a special time of the month to give offerings to Hecate. Hecate was a goddess in Greek Mythology. On her head she sometimes wears a kalathos, a tall wicker basket, or a moon sickle. She is capable of both good and evil and is most often associated with magic and witchcraft. This is shown in Act III, scene five of the play. The Matres While little is known of their exact function, over 1,000 images of the three goddesses have been found in Northwestern Europe. A lot of the same things were said about all of the goddesses. She was born into the world ruled by the Titans, but continued to be influential and powerful in the Olympian pantheon. 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. Although Hecate found Persephone, instead of rescuing her, she helped her settle into her new life as the bride of Hades. Hecate can banishghosts(or produce a ghost infestation). Hecate typically responds to petitions via visions and dreams. And when men arm themselves for the battle that destroys men, then the goddess is at hand to give victory and grant glory readily to whom she will. As a result, the goddess of magic remained a major deity in regulating evil spirits in the Underworld. Child of Perses and Asteria, she was the only Titan to retain her control under Zeus' reign. Hecate was an only child and was worshiped in households of Athens where families hoped to receive protection, prosperity and daily blessings. 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. When the marriage of Persephone was finalized and she became the queen of the underworld, the bond between the three goddesses was strengthened. MAGE ENERGETICS The most complete course in magick ever released! A case in point is the Greek goddess Hecate. The duration ofa dark moonvaries between 1.5 and 3.5 days) to the crossroads. Offerings to this Goddess were also made during the night of the new moon. Regula, deTraci. Hecate: The Goddess of Witchcraft in Greek Mythology "Worker-from-afar." At doorways and crossroads, pillars of the goddess Hecate, who held a torch, stood. The earliest archaeological evidence that has been found that proved that this deity was important and worshipped by the people was the circular altar that was used in the 6th century BCE for sacrifices to her. Hecate is also sometimes interpreted in association with Artemis and Selene. During the time of the Romans, Hecate was often combined with the gods Artemis and Selene, especially in Roman poetry.
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