Greek Goddess Hecate Myths, Symbols and Facts

Hecate or Hekate was a pre-Olympian greek goddess of childbirth. She is believed to have ruled the realms of the earth with her Thracian origins and fertile rituals.

Hecate was the main goddess ruling over magic, sorcery and spells. She beheld the capture of Demeter’s daughter Persephone to the criminal world and, torch in hand helped in the search for her.

As a goddess of childbirth, she was often raised for rites of youth, and in some cases watched over girls who were starting to menstruate.

Goddess Hecate

Hekate was signified as single-formed, dressed in a long robe, holding fiery torches; in later illustrations, she was triple-formed, with 3 forms upright back-to-back, maybe so that she could look in all directions at once from the crossroads.

Goddess Hecate
Greek Goddess Hecate

She was escorted by packs of woofing dogs. Hekate, the goddess known at an early date into Greek faith but possibly derived from the Carians in southwest Asia Minor.

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In Hesiod she is the daughter of the Titan Perses and the nymph Asteria and has rule over bliss, earth, and sea; hence, she gives capital and all the sanctions of daily life.

The supports called Hecataea stood at junction and entrances, possibly to keep away evil spirits.

Classical Mythology

Hekate is the guardian of crossroads and is symbolized by a spinning wheel, just like the Celtic hearth goddess Brighid. She is related to Diana Lucifera, who is the Roman Diana in her facet as light-bearer.

Classical Mythology about Hecate
Classical Mythology about the Greek Goddess

She is often depicted wearing the keys to the soul realm at her belt, escorted by a three-headed hound, and surrounded by lit torches.

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Guil Jones of Encyclopedia Mythica says,

“Hekate is the Greek goddess of the crossroads. She is most often depicted as having three heads; one of a dog, one of a snake and one of a horse.

She is usually seen with two ghost hounds that were said to serve her. She is most often misperceived as the goddess of witchcraft or evil, but she did some very good things in her time.

[she] is said to haunt a three-way crossroad, each of her heads facing in a certain direction. She is said to appear when the ebony moon shines.”

Asteria, a star goddess who was also the aunt of Artemis and Apollo has only one child as per the epic poet Hesiod and that was Goddess Hecate.

The occasion of her birth was tied to the revival of Phoebe, a lunar goddess, who originated during the blackest phase of the moon.

She is at times seen as a guard of those who might be weak, such as soldiers and stalkers, herdsmen and marshals, and kids.

However, she’s not protecting in a fostering or loving way; instead, she is a goddess who will exact revenge upon those who cause damage to people she defends.

Martyrs were made in her decency, during the traditional Greek era, and extended from cakes and eggs to dog meat.

Hecate might be raised by her groups for baneful magic; her name seems on numerous alive curse tablets.

She could also be called upon for godly revenge against anyone who justified penalty for his or her crimes.

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Hesiod defines Hekate in her role as one of the Titans who connected herself with Zeus, and says in Theogony,

“Hekate whom Zeus the son of Kronos honoured above all. He gave her splendid gifts, to have a share of the earth and the unfruitful sea.

She received honour also in starry heaven, and is honoured exceedingly by the deathless gods. For as many as were born of Gaia and Ouranos amongst all these she has her due portion.

The son of Kronos [Zeus] did her no wrong nor took anything away of all that was her portion among the former Titan gods: but she holds, as the division was at the first from the beginning, privilege both in the earth, and in heaven, and sea.

Also, because she is an only child, the goddess receives not less honour, but much more still, for Zeus honours her.”

How to worship goddess Hekate?

Today, many modern Pagans and Wiccans honour Hekate in her appearance as a Dark Goddess, though it would be improper to refer to her as a facet of the Crone, because of her linking to child delivery and maidenhood.

How to worship goddess Hecate
How to worship goddess Hekate?

Her connections with the dark moon, magical spells, ghosts and soul realm have given her the reorganization of the “Dark Goddess.”

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If you wish to call the goddess playfully then you must be mistaken as she is considered to be the goddess that must not be appealed lightly.

To honour the goddess, 30th November is the date of celebration as it signifies the night of crossroads and the night of Hecate Trivia.

The recommendations of Hekatatia at Neokoroi.org for worshiping greek goddess Hekate are as below;

  1. Take care of an abandoned and deserted place that has been reckless by all.
  2. Take on a dog, or helper at a shelter, since dogs are holy to Hecate.
  3. Sing prayers or hymns to Hecate while walking on a dark road at night to let her know your devotion and presence.

What are the powers of Hekate Goddess?

Hekate owns the usual powers of a titaness and goddess. As the titaness of Magic, she has deific power and total control over magic, witchcraft and sorcery.

  1. Hekate had the power to confer and/or refuse help.
  2. She reigned over the underground.
  3. She had the power to see in all directions.
  4. She has godly power and total control over mystic.
  5. Hecate had control over gone and over dark and gloomy.
What are the powers of Hecate Goddess
What are the powers of Hecate Goddess?

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Her magic is feeble in the daytime and sturdiest at night. Her existence makes the area she is submerged by magic.

  1. Hair: Black (Son of Magic)
  2. Species: Titaness
  3. Residence: Underworld
  4. Status: Immortal

Hekate is the deity of witchcraft, and one can view her as the leader of the Three Witches. In Act 3, Scene 5, she appears before the Witches and strains to know why she has been omitted from their summits with Macbeth.

Conclusion

Hecate established powers over bliss, earth, and sea from her blood relation. She also has power over magic and witchcraft. She can also call the dead.

During the Titanomachy, she sided with the Olympians and as an outcome, Zeus certified her control over all areas and let her become one of the only free Titans.

Hekate has four main symbols. They are keys, dagger, torches and rope. She has the key to the underworld which she uses to help souls trip to the underworld.

People Also Ask (FAQs)

Why is Hekate a triple goddess?

The most noticeable early Triple Goddess was Diana, who was likened with the Greek Hecate. Servius completed the open linking between the phases and the roles of the Moirai: some call the same goddess Lucina, Diana, and Hecate because they assign to one deity the three powers of birth, growth, and death.

How was Hekate born?

Hekate is a deity of Greek folklore who was skilled in both good and evil. She was specially related to witchcraft, magic, the Moon, doorways, and creatures of the night such as hell-hounds and ghosts.

Who are Hecate’s parents?

According to Hesiod in his Theogony, she is the daughter of Perses and Asteria, making her the granddaughter of the Titans Phoebe and Coeus. Euripides, on the other hand, remarks her mother is Leto. Other authors title her as the offspring of Zeus and Demeter, Aristaion or Night.

Why is Hecate significant to Greek mythology?

She was the main deity ruling over magic and curses. She saw the seizure of Demeter’s daughter Persephone to the underworld and, torch in hand helped in the search for her. Thus, pillars called Hecataea stood at crossroads and doorways, possibly to keep away wicked spirits.