Attributes and bynames Hecate

1 attributes , bynames

1.1 representations
1.2 animals
1.3 plants
1.4 boundaries , crossroads

attributes , bynames

hecate known number of bynames:

apotropaia (that turns away/protects)
chthonia (of earth/underworld)
enodia (on way)
klêidouchos (holding keys)
kourotrophos (nurse of children)
melinoe
phosphoros, lampadephoros (bringing or bearing light)
propolos (who serves/attends)
propulaia/propylaia (before gate)
soteria (savior)
trimorphe (three-formed)
triodia/trioditis (who frequents crossroads)
trivia (mythology) (roman form)

representations


statuette of triple-bodied hekate. pen, ink , light brown , grey wash.



triple hecate

hecate represented three-formed. has been speculated being connected appearance of full moon, half moon, , new moon. virgin goddess, remained unmarried , had no regular consort, though traditions named mother of scylla.

the earliest greek depictions of hecate not three-formed. farnell states: evidence of monuments character , significance of hecate full of express manifold , mystic nature. earliest known monument small terracotta found in athens, dedication hecate, in writing of style of 6th century. goddess seated on throne chaplet bound round head; altogether without attributes , character, , main historical value of work, evidently of quite general type , gets special reference , name merely inscription, proves single shape earlier form, , recognition @ athens earlier persian invasion.

triple hecate , charites, attic, 3rd century bce (glyptothek, munich)

the 2nd-century travel writer pausanias stated hecate first depicted in triplicate sculptor alkamenes in greek classical period of late 5th century bce placed before temple of wingless nike in athens. greek anthropomorphic conventions of art resisted representing 3 faces: votive sculpture attica of 3rd century bce (illustration, left), shows 3 single images against column; round column of hecate dance charites. classical portrayals show triplicate goddess holding torch, key, serpents, daggers , numerous other items. depictions of both single form hekate , triple formed, occasional 4 headed descriptions continued throughout history.

in egyptian-inspired greek esoteric writings connected hermes trismegistus, , in magical papyri of late antiquity described having 3 heads: 1 dog, 1 serpent, , 1 horse. in other representations animal heads include of cow , boar. hecate s triplicity elsewhere expressed in more hellenic fashion in vast frieze of great pergamon altar, in berlin, wherein shown 3 bodies, taking part in battle titans. in argolid, near shrine of dioscuri, pausanias saw temple of hecate opposite sanctuary of eileithyia; reported image work of scopas, stating further, 1 of stone, while bronze images opposite, of hecate, made respectively polycleitus , brother naucydes, son of mothon. (description of greece 2.22.7)

in argonautica, 3rd-century bce alexandrian epic based on material, jason placates hecate in ritual prescribed medea, priestess: bathed @ midnight in stream of flowing water, , dressed in dark robes, jason dig round pit , on cut throat of ewe, sacrificing , burning whole on pyre next pit holocaust. told sweeten offering libation of honey, retreat site without looking back, if hears sound of footsteps or barking dogs. these elements betoken rites owed chthonic deity.

a 4th-century bce marble relief crannon in thessaly dedicated race-horse owner. shows hecate, hound beside her, placing wreath on head of mare. commonly attended dog or dogs, , common form of offering leave meat @ crossroads. images of attended dog found @ times when shown in role mother goddess child, , when depicted alongside god hermes , goddess kybele in reliefs.

animals

the triple hecate, 1795

william blake



a goddess, hekate or else artemis, depicted bow, dog , twin torches.

dogs closely associated hecate in classical world. in art , in literature hecate represented dog-shaped or accompanied dog. approach heralded howling of dog. dog hecate s regular sacrificial animal, , eaten in solemn sacrament. sacrifice of dogs hecate attested thrace, samothrace, colophon, , athens.

it has been claimed association dogs suggestive of connection birth, dog sacred eileithyia, genetyllis, , other birth goddesses. although in later times hecate s dog came thought of manifestation of restless souls or demons accompanied her, docile appearance , accompaniment of hecate looks friendly in many pieces of ancient art suggests original signification positive , likelier have arisen dog s connection birth dog s underworld associations. association dogs, particularly female dogs, explained metamorphosis myth. friendly looking female dog accompanying hecate trojan queen hekabe, leapt sea after fall of troy , transformed hecate familiar.

another metamorphosis myth explains why polecat associated hecate. antoninus liberalis: @ thebes proitos had daughter galinthias. maiden playmate , companion of alkmene, daughter of elektryon. birth throes herakles pressing on alkmene, moirai (fates) , eileithyia (birth-goddess), favour hera, kept alkmene in continuous birth pangs. remained seated, each keeping arms crossed. galinthias, fearing pains of labour drive alkmene mad, ran moirai , eleithyia , announced desire of zeus boy had been born alkmene , prerogatives had been abolished.

at this, consternation of course overcame moirai , let go arms. alkmene’s pangs ceased @ once , herakles born. moirai aggrieved @ , took away womanly parts of galinthias since, being mortal, had deceived gods. turned deceitful weasel (or polecat), making live in crannies , gave grotesque way of mating. mounted through ears , gives birth bringing forth young through throat. hekate felt sorry transformation of appearance , appointed sacred servant of herself.

aelian told different story of woman transformed polecat: have heard polecat once human being. has reached hearing gale name then; dealer in spells , sorceress (pharmakis); extremely incontinent, , afflicted abnormal sexual desires. nor has escaped notice anger of goddess hekate transformed evil creature. may goddess gracious me : fables , telling leave others.

athenaeus (writing in 1st or 2nd century bce, , drawing on etymological speculation of apollodorus of athens) notes red mullet sacred hecate, on account of resemblance of names; goddess trimorphos, of triple form . greek word mullet trigle , later trigla. goes on quote fragment of verse o mistress hecate, trioditis / 3 forms , 3 faces / propitiated mullets . in relation greek concepts of pollution, parker observes, fish commonly banned red mullet (trigle), fits neatly pattern. delighted in polluted things, , eat corpse of fish or man . blood-coloured itself, sacred blood-eating goddess hecate. seems symbolic summation of negative characteristics of creatures of deep. @ athens, said there stood statue of hecate triglathena, whom red mullet offered in sacrifice. after mentioning fish sacred hecate, alan davidson writes, cicero, horace, juvenal, martial, pliny, seneca , suetonius have left abundant , interesting testimony red mullet fever began affect wealthy romans during last years of republic , gripped them in empire. main symptoms preoccupation size, consequent rise absurd heights of prices of large specimens, habit of keeping red mullet in captivity, , enjoyment of highly specialized aesthetic experience induced watching color of dying fish change.

the frog, symbol of similarly-named egyptian goddess heqet, has become sacred hecate in modern pagan literature, possibly due in part ability cross between 2 elements.

in three-headed representations, discussed above, hecate has 1 or more animal heads, including cow, dog, boar, serpent , horse.

plants

hecate closely associated plant lore , concoction of medicines , poisons. in particular thought give instruction in these closely related arts. apollonius of rhodes, in argonautica mentions medea taught hecate, have mentioned before young girl whom hecate, daughter of perses, has taught work in drugs.

the goddess described wearing oak in fragments of sophocles lost play root diggers (or root cutters), , ancient commentary on apollonius of rhodes argonautica (3.1214) describes having head surrounded serpents, twining through branches of oak.

the yew in particular sacred hecate.

greeks held yew sacred hecate... attendants draped wreathes of yew around necks of black bulls slaughtered in honor , yew boughs burned on funeral pyres. yew associated alphabet , scientific name yew today, taxus, derived greek word yew, toxos, hauntingly similar toxon, word bow , toxicon, word poison. presumed latter named after tree because of superiority both bows , poison.

hecate said favor offerings of garlic, closely associated cult. associated cypress, tree symbolic of death , underworld, , hence sacred number of chthonic deities.

a number of other plants (often poisonous, medicinal and/or psychoactive) associated hecate. these include aconite (also called hecateis), belladonna, dittany, , mandrake. has been suggested use of dogs digging mandrake further corroboration of association of plant hecate; indeed, since @ least 1st century ce, there number of attestations apparently widespread practice of using dogs dig plants associated magic.

boundaries , crossroads

the coins of agathocles of bactria (ruled 190-180 bce), show zeus holding hecate in hand.

hecate associated borders, city walls, doorways, crossroads and, extension, realms outside or beyond world of living. appears have been particularly associated being between , hence characterized liminal goddess. hecate mediated between regimes—olympian , titan—but between mortal , divine spheres. liminal role reflected in number of cult titles: apotropaia (that turns away/protects); enodia (on way); propulaia/propylaia (before gate); triodia/trioditis (who frequents crossroads); klêidouchos (holding keys), etc.

as goddess expected avert harmful or destructive spirits house or city on stood guard , protect individual or passed through dangerous liminal places, hecate naturally become known goddess refuse avert demons, or drive them on against unfortunate individuals.

it role guardian of entrances led hecate s identification mid fifth century enodia, thessalian goddess. enodia s name ( in-the-road ) suggests watched on entrances, expresses both possibility stood on main road city, keeping eye on entered, , in road in front of private houses, protecting inhabitants.

this function appear have relationship iconographic association of hecate keys, , might relate appearance 2 torches, when positioned on either side of gate or door illuminated immediate area , allowed visitors identified. in byzantium small temples in honor placed close gates of city. hecate s importance byzantium above deity of protection. when philip of macedon attack city, according legend alerted townspeople ever present torches, , pack of dogs, served constant companions. suggests hecate s close association dogs derived in part use of watchdogs, who, particularly @ night, raised alarm when intruders approached. watchdogs used extensively greeks , romans.

cult images , altars of hecate in triplicate or trimorphic form placed @ three-way crossroads (though appeared before private homes , in front of city gates). in form came known goddess trivia ( 3 ways ) in roman mythology. in appears 7th-century indication of survival of cult practices of general sort, saint eligius, in sermo warns sick among converted flock in flanders against putting devilish charms @ springs or trees or crossroads , and, according saint ouen urge them no christian should make or render devotion deities of trivium, 3 roads meet... .

like hecate, [t]he dog creature of threshold, guardian of doors , portals, , appropriately associated frontier between life , death, , demons , ghosts move across frontier. yawning gates of hades guarded monstrous watchdog cerberus, function prevent living entering underworld, , dead leaving it.