@jointhecovn another week closer to halloween 😏 #daystilhalloween #hecate #greekmythology #history #witches #witchtok #witchcraft #pagan #voodoo #todayilearned #halloween #halloweenhistory ♬ original sound - Covn
Today we will be exploring Hecate. Who was she? How was she depicted? Why is she popular with the witchy?
Hecate is a goddess in ancient Greek religion and mythology. She is often depicted holding a pair of torches, a key, snakes, or accompanied by dogs, and in later periods, depicted as three-formed or triple-bodied.
Hecate had a lot on her plate; she was the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy. She was the only child of the Titanes Perses and Asteria - it was from them that she received her power over heaven, earth, and sea.
Hecate being the goddess of witchcraft is the reason that we want to talk about her today. Because of this, Hecate has long been praised by groups of witches and magical folk. She even had a large following amongst the witches of Thessaly - a group of Greek women infamous for being able to ‘draw down the moon’.
It is difficult to define Hecate. She does not appear in the Homeric epics and was most likely adopted into the Greek pantheon from the Carians of Asia Minor. She was virtually ubiquitous in ancient Greece, being at once the goddess of witches, the household, crossroads and travel, agriculture, and more.
Hecate has also had a role in some very important tales in Greek mythology; she witnessed the abduction of Demeter’s daughter Persephone to the underworld. She was then vital in assisting in the search for her by using her torches.
Hecate was often identified with a number of other goddesses (both Greek and non-Greek), including Artemis, Selene, Persephone, Crataeis, and Brimo. Consequently, “Hecate” could be seen as an alternate name for any one of these deities. The Romans often referred to Hecate as Trivia (“she of the triple road”), echoing the goddess’s association with crossroads.
So, there is an education on the true goddess of witchcraft - a title we here at Covn truly respect.
Further Reading: