Hecate

Hecate is portrayed as a terrifying goddess bearing holding a torch and a sword. Her feet and hair were formed of serpents, or snakes, she was accompanied by the voices of thunder, ghostly shrieks and yells and the deep baying and howling of dogs.

Hecate

Picture of Hecate

Hecate for kids
She was also a Greek goddess of fertility who later became associated with Persephone as goddess of the Underworld and the powerful protector of witches. Additional facts and information about the mythology of individual gods and goddesses can be accessed via the following links:

Gods and Deities

Greek Gods and Goddesses

Facts about Hecate
Hecate features in the religious beliefs of the ancient Greeks which are based on the idea that these supernatural beings resembled mortals but possessed great magical and mystic powers. The following information, facts and profile provides a fast overview of Hecate:

Hecate Profile & Fact File
Greek Name: Hecate

Role & Function: The function of Hecate is described as being the the goddess of magic, witches, sorcery, herbs, the moon and crossroads

Status: Lived in the Underworld

Symbols: Dogs, keys and paired torches

A triple divinity: Her realm extended over earth, the sky and hell (Hades & Tartarus (Hell)

Gender: Female

Roman Counterpart: The Roman name for this god was Hekate

Name of Husband: Aeetes

Name of Father: Perses or Erebus

Name of Mother: Asteria or Nyx the primordial goddess of night

Names of Children: Aegialeus, Absyrtus, Medea, Circe and Chalciope

Hecate depicted on a a tridrachm, a silver Roman coin, worth three drachmas, issued by various Greek mints from 600BE to 200AD when the area was under Roman rule

Hecate Family tree & Genealogy - the Children of Nyx
Nyx, the dark goddess of darkness, was the mother of many of the Gods of death and darkness. Some were the result of her union with Erebus, another important god of the infernal region. The family members and genealogy of Hecate are detailed in the following family tree, providing an overview of the relationships between Hecate and some of the principle Greek gods and goddesses of death and the Underworld.

The Symbols of Hecate
Each ancient Greek god and goddess were associated with special symbols, animals and attributes. The Symbols of Hecate helped the ancient Greeks instantly recognize the gods and goddesses that were depicted in the pictures, mosaics, statues and images. The symbols of Hecate and their meanings were as follows:

• Keys
  • These symbols represent the keys to the Underworld and her ability to unlock the secrets of the occult and the black arts: sorcery, magical spells and witchcraft
• Paired torches
  • Such torches were also symbols of Ares, the god of war whose priests carried burning torches as the sign of battle
• The Moon
  • The symbol of the moon relates to her role as the nocturnal goddess of the moon.
• Dogs
  • The symbol of the dogs relate to their ability to see ghosts. Hecate was said to roam battlefields and places of death to lead souls to the Underworld

Hecate (Roman Counterpart was Hekate)
When the Roman Empire conquered the Greeks in 146BC, the Romans assimilated various elements from other cultures and civilisations, including the gods and goddesses that were worshipped by the Ancient Greeks. Many of the Greek gods and goddesses, such as Hecate, were therefore adopted by the Romans but were given Latin names. The Roman counterpart of Hecate was Hekate although she is often confused with Trivia, the goddess of crossroads and guardian of roads.

Facts about Hecate in Greek Mythology
Hecate, the Greek goddess of Magic, featured in the stories, myths and legends in Greek Mythology. Discover interesting information and facts about Hecate, the Greek goddess of Magic. The facts about Hecate provides a list detailing fascinating additional info to increase your knowledge about Hecate in Greek Mythology.

Picture of the Greek Underworld, the residence of Hecate

Mythical Facts about Hecate
Fact 1: Shrines to the goddess were placed at the doorways of homes and as protection from the dead and evil spirits.

Fact 2 : Shrines and statues to the goddess were placed at three-way crossroads where food offerings were left at the new moon to placate any roaming spectres and evil spirits

Fact 3 : She had the power to create or calm storms and was therefore a patron of sailors

Fact 4 : She plays a role in the mythology regarding the story of Demeter and Persephone

Fact 5 : Offerings and sacrifices of black lambs were made in her honor

Fact 6 : The festival of the 'Day of Hecate' was August 13 in which prayers and offerings were made so that the goddess would not send heavy rain or storms and ruin and the crops.

Fact 7 : The festival of the 'Night of Hecate' was a midnight festival on November 16 to placate any evil spirits

Fact 8 : Great attention was paid to the ceremonies and rituals conducted at her festivals for fear of antagonising evil spirits

Hecate

• Hecate
• Interesting information and Facts about the Greek goddess Hecate
• Hecate, the Greek goddess of Magic
• Stories and Legends in Greek Mythology associated with Hecate
• Facts and information about the Gods and Deities of the Ancient World for schools and kids
• Hecate, the Greek goddess of Magic