Ancient goddess spotlight: Hecate

March 31, 11:29 AMWomen's Issues ExaminerJuliette Fretté

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Goddess of the crossroads ~ Goddess of the witches 

Believed to pre-date ancient Greek culture, Hecate (Hek-uh-tee) is a multifunctional goddess of regeneration. Known primarily for her association to the Underworld, she is the guardian of midwives, witches, birth, fertility, magic, ceremonies, wealth, education, the dark of the moon, and night itself. Because she was thought to both give and take life, Hecate is often seen as a goddess of death, ghosts, and spirits. Recognized for her nocturnal walks with her pack of hounds, she was often worshipped at the intersection of three roads. Hecate's symbols therefore include nocturnal crossroads, darkness, and even snakes -- a magical animal associated with many goddesses cross-culturally throughout the ancient world.

An aspect of the divine feminine trinity consisting of the maiden, mother, and crone, Hecate represents the "crone" or wise woman in the later stages of life. Bound to Greek goddess Demeter (the "mother") and Persephone (the "maiden"), Hecate is known to be an underworld companion of Persephone, who was kid-knapped by Hades, god the Underworld.

As one of the mythological Titans, an ancient group of Greek deities preceding the Olympian gods, Hecate is believed to have maintained her power and prestige after her pantheon's failed battle against the younger Olympian generation.  Keeping her honor as granted by Zeus, the new king of the Gods, Hecate continued to possess powers of life and death.  Thus her abilities inevitably extend into the territories of newer Olympian gods and goddesses.  Similar to Athena, Hecate is also considered a divine source of victory and inspiration for ancient Greek soldiers in battle.

Sources:
The Goddess Oracle by Amy Sophia Marashinsky (2002)
Whence the Goddesses: A Source Book by Miriam Robbins Dexter (1990)

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Artwork: "Hecate Rising" by Juliette Fretté