Hecate



Hecate was a complex, ancient goddess known to the Greeks but originally worshiped by people of Asia Minor*. She held several different roles, including earth goddess, queen of the underworld, and goddess of magic and witchcraft.

According to the Greek writer Hesiod*, Hecate was the daughter of the Titan* Perses and the nymph Asteria. Hesiod claimed that Hecate was a favorite of Zeus*, who made her goddess of the earth, sea, and sky. As a triple goddess, she was also identified with the three aspects of the moon and was represented by women of three different ages. In the sky, she took the form of the old woman Selene, the moon. On earth, she was linked to Artemis (Diana), goddess of the hunt. In the underworld, she was connected with the maiden Persephone, wife of Hades.

underworld land of the dead

nymph minor goddess of nature, usually represented as young and beautiful

Because of her association with the moon, Hecate was seen as a goddess of the night, magic, and spells. Magic was often practiced where roads met, and the Greeks established shrines to her at crossroads, especially where three roads came together. In her role as goddess of magic, Hecate is shown as a three-headed figure who keeps watch over the crossroads where her rites were performed. To her worshipers, she could bring good fortune and success, but she could also be a powerfully negative force. Later Christian tradition emphasized this side of her nature, portraying Hecate as an evil figure who was queen of the witches.

rite ceremony or formal procedure

See also Greek Mythology ; Witches and Wizards ; Moon .



Also read article about Hecate from Wikipedia

User Contributions:

1
Sara
Hecate is Queen of the Underworld who comes to Earth every 200 years to put a innocent under a love spell for her to concieve an heir with a mortal so that the child would look normal on the outside but pure evil on the inside. The only thing that can destroy Hecate is the jewelled poignard. On the side of the jewelled poignard is an Italian inscription: "Nec prius absistit quoad protero prodigium" in english means: I shall not rest until the demon is vanquished. One declaration of love can waive the spell on the innocent again. Hecate must be destroyed before she can concieve an heir or marry the innocent.


Comments: I am not sure if this is true, i just found this out by watching a programme but it's something to check into. I do believe that Hecate did exsit maybe Centuries ago but I am not so sure now.

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