Temple of Hecate

Sanctuary of Hecate in Lagina, 2nd century BC, Caria, Turkey, photo by Carole Raddato, License Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic
Sanctuary of Hecate in Lagina, 2nd century BC, Caria, Turkeyphoto by Carole Raddato
License Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic

Herstory


 Herstory      Holidays


An ancient Goddess
Hecate was the only child of two Greek Titans:
Asteria Goddess of the heavens and astrology
&
Perses Grandson of earth, sea and sky

Hecate was linked to Sirius, the dog star
of the constellation Canis Major

Detail from "Canis Major, Lepus, Columba Noachi & Cela Sculptoris" plate 30 in "Urania's Mirror" by Jehoshaphat Aspin 1825 public domain image
Detail from Canis Major, Lepus, Columba Noachi & Cela Sculptoris
plate 30 in Urania's Mirror by Jehoshaphat Aspin 1825
public domain image

Hecate's stellar rise in popularity
was attributed to Her alliance with the Zeus,
who granted Hecate rule over three realms:
earth, sea and sky.

Hecate according to Hesiod's Theogony:

... Hecate whom Zeus ... honored above all
... to this day, whenever any one
... prays for favor ... he calls upon Hecate.

Great honor comes full easily
to him whose prayers
the Goddess receives favorably,
and She bestows wealth upon him;
for the power surely is with Her.


Hecate sometimes appeared in triple form.

Three-way crossroads (earth, sea, sky)
served as Her temples where She accepted humble offerings of simple meals or bread. Rome adopted Her divinity as Trivia which means Goddess of three avenues

Hekate Triformis, public domain image
Hekate Triformis, public domain image

Hecate was sought in oracles and She
became renown for Her accuracy

Today, as in ancient times, the crossroads
retain sacred mysteries of the transition
between this world and the one beyond.
Is it possible the Goddess Hecate may still
be summoned at the crossroads
to light the way to heaven for our loved ones?



According to Hekate Liminal Rites by Sorita d'Este

wine was offered to invoke the Goddess Hecate

and many ancient magicians and philosophers
who mentioned Hecate in their writings
were vegetarian.

Rather the offerings to the Gods
were substances such as the sweet resins
of frankincense and myrrh...


Sacred Botanicals


Lavender Meadow, public domain image
Lavender Meadow, public domain image

Lavender, Saffron, Herbs and Garlic