If we are going to talk about Hecate, first of all, we need to talk about the concept of trinity she is in. The understanding of trinity, which takes place not only in Greek myths, but also in many different mythologies; It talks about three entities that complement each other and are therefore often depicted together. I told you it was important to Hecate, that Hecate is also called Trimorphis, which means “three bodies”. The trio he is included in is both very cool and important.
This trio of Hecate, Selene and Artemis are collectively referred to as the “Moon Goddesses”. I think the most famous among them is Artemis, because she is associated with hunting and archery and is the twin sister of Apollo, so she takes part in myths a lot. Selene, who is less famous than herself and lives happily without touching the water and soap, is defined only as the moon goddess. She is the sister of the sun god Helios. Hecate, one of which I would like to talk about today, is a Greek goddess associated with many concepts such as the moon, fertility, magic, plants and witchcraft.
In Hesiod’s Theogonia, which describes the family tree of Greek mythology, Hecate is called the titan Perses, who is associated with destruction, and the “Daughter of Asteria”, a nymph. But Hecate is also a goddess with many different stories.
According to some sources, she is a goddess who came from Heqet, the goddess of fertility in Egypt, and according to some sources, who broke away from the myths in Anatolia. Her history is so complex that it is impossible to find a clear pedigree except for Hesiod. For example, she is not always portrayed as a goddess; Some say that Hecate supported the gods during the Titanomache, the great war of the gods against the titans, thus rejecting her originally titanic origin and establishing herself among the gods.
Symbols of Hecate
Of course, the fact that she is a goddess whose name we do not hear as much as others does not prevent her from being an important person. The story of Persephone and Hades is well known. In one version of that story, it is the goddess Hecate who helps Demeter search for her daughter. Holding a torch in his hand, he guides Demeter. Since then, Hecate is addressed with adjectives such as “illuminating the darkness”, “bringing wisdom”, and given the right to descend into the kingdom of Hades an unlimited number of times.
Another object associated with it is the dagger. It is worth noting that it is considered a useful tool here, as it is used to cut plants rather than being an object of violence. The dagger can also be a symbol of magic and spirit. For example, for those interested in witchcraft, the black dagger called Athamé is important because it is used in most rituals. So, I guess it is inevitable to associate the dagger with Hecate. Apart from that, Hecate is also depicted with snakes, this is because, according to ancient beliefs, snakes can detect the presence of spirits. Just like himself.
She’s a real witch
We called Hecate the goddess of witchcraft, we didn’t talk much about the witch aspect. But the witch mentioned here is not portrayed like those crones in Disney movies. For example, speaking of ready-made herbs, I should also mention that Hecate, as a witch, was believed to be healing. Because the potions obtained by mixing different materials were considered as “medicine” for a period – in the same way, the potions Hecate made were said to heal those who drink. So she wasn’t a scary witch who turned princes into frogs with her long nails. He was seen as a more gentle and helpful person.
Hecate also appeared as the bridge connecting the two worlds, as she could enter and exit Hades’ kingdom as she wished. Thus, people who included Hecate in their rituals and asked for her help felt even closer to the spirits. For reasons like this, witches sometimes called her the “Mother of All”. Because you can’t find it strange that a goddess who can see both the world of spirits and the world of humans is regarded as “the owner of everything in the universe”.
After the concept of witchcraft was associated with evil and the devil, Hecate unfortunately began to be referred to as a feared figure. However, look how grateful she is, isn’t she? Her daughter Kirke, a witch like herself, only surpasses hers in fame. I have done my daily Greek mythology geeky on this occasion, I threw my energy away. Ok. If there is anything you want to add, you can leave it below, I’m very curious about your thoughts on Hecate. See you guys!
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