Back to the Mythologies?
Back to the Paganism/Mythology Section?
Singnificantly, she is the only Greek divinity to retain her power after the coming of the Olympians. A Titaness, she is nearly equal to Zeus. She served as Maiden to Persephone’s Bride and Demeter’s Mother, later becoming the Crone to Artemis the Maiden, and Selene the Mother. She guided departed souls to Hades’ realm and could release them back to wander the earth. It was she who taught the Sibyl of Cumae how to enter the Realm of Hades while still mortal. The Sibyl later guided Aeneas through the Underworld in his search for his father, Anchises.
Hecate served as protector at points and periods of transition, the most famous example is where she led Persephone from the Underworld back to her mother, Demeter. Evidence of her worship is scarce, but altar dedications show it was far from limited, secretive, or solitary, and actually quite widespread, being found in Sicily, Asia Minor, and mainland Greece.
Examples of her importance exist throughout every century of antiquity. Perhaps her most important role was in the great Mysteries at Eleusis, Samothrace, and Aigina. Her sanctuaries and festivals in Roman times were popular in Aigina and Argos. And she was primary deity at Karia. Numerous sculptures and altars were dedicated Hecate.
Perhaps fearing possible vengence or maliciousness from dead souls, statues of Hecate were placed outside sanctuaries and homes as protection from these spirits. For the same reason, her statues were also placed where three roads came together. Folks hoped to gain her favor in agriculture and other types of fertility. It was here, at the crossroads, that once a month, offerings are left her. These Hecate’s Suppers usually consisted of eggs, milk, and honey, and a sacrificial dog or black ewe. Later in Antiquity, she became more exclusively associated with dark magic, perhaps because so many of her rites occured in the night at crossroads. Crossroads were places of power.
As Watcher over crossroads, Hecate was usually shown holding two huge torches lighting the way, as well as statuary called Hecataion. These images depicted a triple Hecate, facing off into three directions.
Greek Mythology and the Gods of Olympus. [http://www.greekmyth.com]
Powell, Barry. Classical Myth. 2nd Ed. Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ, 1998.
Rudloff, Robert V. Hecate in Ancient Greek Religion. Victoria, British Columbia, Canada: Horned Owl Publishing, 1999. (The book is excertped at their website: [http://www.islandnet.com/~hornowl]
Back
to the Mythologies?
Back
to the Paganism/Mythology Section?
Originally
composed 9 September, 2000.
Copyright
Laurel Reufner, 2000. Comments? Email me!