Hecate in Myth and Folklore

The gods of ancient Greece have captured the imaginations of many since the Renaissance. Gods such as Apollo, Zeus, Artemis, and Athena have become well known to many. However, a few of these gods do not get the limelight as often, but their stories in Greek mythos are equally as fascinating and their impact on modern life is just as prevalent. A prime example of this: Hecate.

Hecate is the goddess of magic and witchcraft with associations with the moon, doorways, crossroads, and dogs. She is often characterized as the daughter of the second generation Titans Perses and Asteria but some tellings have her as the daughter of Zeus, Demeter, or Leto, mother of Apollo and Artemis. Some early writers even claimed she was the princess Iphigenia who, after being saved from death by Artemis, was turned into a goddess.

No matter her origins, Hecate was a goddess of many traits, rituals, and mysteries. While she did not feature in many specific myths, some tellings of the kidnapping of Persephone have Hecate bearing witness and, torch in hand, assisting in Demeter’s search for her. This may have given her the association with crossroads and doorways which became a large part of her domain. This may also contribute to her triple formed depictions in later representations, allowing her visual of the crossroads from all sides.

Hecate’s association with crossroads gave her a status similar to Hermes as a god who can cross between the living world and the Underworld, which may explain why she is often depicted with keys, as she can control not only the doorways, but the passage of a soul from one world to the next. This also is shown in her triple aspect form as Maiden, Mother, and Crone, depicting the three stages of a woman’s life. It may additionally give some insight into the dogs that are often depicted alongside her, as some dogs will eat the dead if left unburied as well as their tendency to howl at the moon.

The dog association does have another myth that features Hecate in the form of Hecuba, the Trojan queen who leapt to her death when her city fell. Hecate is said to have taken pity on her, turning her into a dog to be her companion. This act of transformation goes hand in hand with her association with the sorceresses Circe and Medea in cementing her as the goddess of magical practitioners.

Hecate’s many rituals were unusual for the times of the Greeks but some are still continued today, including the offering of food at the crossroads each month on the night of a new moon, often by practitioners of magic who wish to appeal to her for aid in spells and rituals.

Hecate’s presence in Greek mythos may be scattered, but when she does appear, her influence and ability to inflict good or ill fortune can be keenly felt. This is why she has survived the test of time alongside the other Olympians, rarely in the light but always standing by the crossroads, waiting for others to find her under the cover of night.

References:

Cartwright, Mark. “Hecate.” World History Encyclopedia, June 2023, www.worldhistory.org/Hecate .

Greenberg, Mike, PhD. “Hecate Greek Goddess of Witchcraft: A Complete Guide (2023).” MythologySource, Jan. 2022, mythologysource.com/hecate-greek-goddess.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Hecate | Myth and Symbols.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 July 1998, www.britannica.com/topic/Hecate