Hecate | The Ancient Origins of the Goddess of Witchcraft
Lady of the Library・2 minutes read
Robert Graves' concept of the Maiden, Mother, Crone is popular, but he lacks credibility due to a lack of primary sources, with modern interpretations exploring ancient goddesses such as Hecate and her varied roles in Witchcraft, Night, and Ghosts. Hecate's historical origins and association with the triple goddess archetype is debated, with her evolving from various roles as a goddess of the underworld, magic, boundaries, and liminality, with differing parentage stories and connections to other ancient goddesses like Bendis and Queen Hecuba.
Insights
- Robert Graves popularized the Maiden, Mother, Crone concept as the feminine counterpart to the Horned God, despite lacking scholarly credibility due to a lack of primary resources in discussions.
- Hecate's multifaceted role as a goddess of the underworld, magic, and Witchcraft, with origins tied to varying parentage stories and ancient Greek associations, challenges modern misconceptions of her alignment with the Mother, Maiden, Crone archetype in neo-paganism.
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Recent questions
What is the Maiden, Mother, Crone concept?
The Maiden, Mother, Crone concept represents the three stages of womanhood.
How is Hecate portrayed in Macbeth?
Hecate is depicted as judging Macbeth and the witches in Macbeth.
What is Hecate's role in ancient Greece?
Hecate was associated with Witchcraft, Night, and Ghosts in ancient Greece.
How did Hecate evolve in Greek mythology?
Hecate transitioned from a goddess of honor to the underworld ruler.
Where was Hecate worshipped in ancient times?
Hecate was worshipped in various temples, including Delphi and Ephesus.
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Summary
00:00
"Hecate: Goddess of Magic and Boundaries"
- Robert Graves popularized the concept of the Maiden, Mother, Crone as the feminine counterpart to the Horned God.
- Graves lacked scholarly credibility due to his lack of primary resources in discussions.
- Modern misconceptions of Hecate in contemporary paganism are set aside to explore ancient goddesses of Witchcraft, Night, and Ghosts.
- Hecate's role in Shakespeare's Macbeth portrays her judgment of Macbeth and the witches.
- Hecate is not historically linked to the Mother, Maiden, Crone archetype as modern neo-paganism suggests.
- The Morai, not Hecate, were traditionally associated with the three stages of Womanhood in ancient Greece.
- Hecate's role as a goddess of the underworld, magic, and Witchcraft is more expansive than the modern triple goddess concept.
- Hecate's origins vary in ancient texts, with differing parentage stories from various writers.
- Hecate's role in the abduction of Persephone showcases her as a defender of mothers and maidens.
- Hecate's depiction as a goddess of boundaries and liminality is reflected in her epithets and titles.
16:15
Hecuba's Transformation: From Queen to Dog
- After the fall of Troy, Odysseus takes Queen Hecuba as his captive, who is believed to symbolize the queen.
- Queen Hecuba is murdered by the locals during the voyage back to Greece, leading to her transformation into a black dog in some myths.
- Hecuba becomes the familiar to the goddess Hekate, aligning her with the Thracian goddess Bendis, associated with moon and hunting.
- Bendis was worshipped with Bacchic-like orgies in the Wilds of Thrakes and offered dogs as sacrificial animals.
- Hecuba, besides being Hekate's familiar, also had a polecat or weasel, believed to be a punishment by transformation.
- The polecat's origins vary in myths, with one stating it was a metamorphosed witch Gail, while another claims it was the midwife of Alcamina.
- Hecate's evolution in Greek mythology saw her initially as a goddess of great honor with domains in the sky, earth, and sea.
- Over time, Hecate's role shifted to the underworld, associated with purifications, expiations, and as the ruler of the departed.
- Hecate's connection to the moon grew later in Greek mythology, with associations to the underworld and witchcraft becoming prominent.
- Scholars debate Hecate's origins, with some suggesting Anatolian roots, pointing to her possible introduction to Greek mainland from Asia Minor in the Archaic Period.
32:07
Hecate: Powerful Intermediary in Ancient Greek Religion
- Hecate is depicted in a freeze as a midwife or nurse, observing Reya's crucial role in the fall of the Titans, showcasing her importance as a powerful figure in human affairs and as an intermediary between the Divine and Mortal realms.
- Scholars debate Hecate's origins, with some suggesting she was an aspect of Artemis before being adopted into the Olympian Pantheon, while others point to her cult in Mycenaean Greece and mystery cults dedicated to her on the island of Aegina.
- Hecate was worshipped in various locations, including the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, and the Temple of Athena in Titane, with rituals and offerings specific to her, such as the Hecate supper given to her and the Restless Dead once a month.
- The Hecate supper included small cakes, dog meat, and red mullet, placed on or near a household shrine to Hecate at a three-way crossroads, believed to purify the household, appease Hecate, and satisfy the spirits of the unavenged.
- Hecate was also worshipped in Byzantium, where she was believed to have saved the city from Philip II of Macedon, leading to the dedication of a statue to her as the lamp carrier, known as Hecate Lampadephoros.
