The Goddess Hekate

About The Goddess Hekate

Hekate is a goddess of magic, liminality and transformation whose origins and even the meaning of her name are as mysterious as she is. Hekate first appears in literature in the 8th century BCE, in the Greek epic the Theogony, by Hesiod, which describes the Greek gods and many of their attributes and interactions. Prior to this we can only speculate about her origins, which are thought to lie outside of Greece.

This group is for images of the Goddess Hekate - including ancient images, modern shrines and altars, ceremonies and temples.

More about Hekate (from www.sacredfires.co.uk )
Hekate had numerous titles, epithets and forms, which reflect many of her attributes and powers. She was usually portrayed as a beautiful maiden or as three maidens back to back, or sometimes with three animal heads:

“Hekate’s triple form emphasised her power over the three realms, these being the heavens, sea and earth. Her primal nature was seen in the many animal heads she was depicted with, each emphasising different qualities of her manifold character.” (Hekate Liminal Rites, p19)

Another triplicity associated with Hekate is her power over the liminal moments in life, as she was associated with childbirth, initiation and death. She was particularly associated with the ancient Greek mystery religions, such as the Eleusian Mysteries, those celebrated at Aigina, Lagina and Samothrace in her honour, and Hekate also played a role in the Orphic Mysteries. Her triple nature is also associated with the three-way crossroads, which is sacred to her, and a place where offerings of food called Hekate Suppers were made to her on the New moon each month.

One way to appreciate the scope of Hekate’s many roles, is to look at the people who worked with her and why. Witches and sorcerors called on her to empower their spells and provide assistance via the restless dead, daimones or angels; theurgists called on her to gain a better understanding of the universe and to try and reach perfection by uniting themselves with her power; philosophers and poets called on her for inspiration; root magicians and herbalists called on her for knowledge of plants and healing; priestesses and priests called on her for oracles and to bestow initiation; generals called on her to protect cities; ordinary people called on her for protection, blessings, and for dream visions; and the dying called on her to receive them into the afterlife with open arms and shining torches to guide their passage.

“There can be no doubt that Hekate’s role as initiatrix was part of her enduring popularity. As the torch-bearing guide who had power in all realms, she was a logical choice for inclusion in Mystery Religions. References in the Greek Magical Papyri and the Chaldean Oracles hint at her connection with initiation in the Roman world, and that function has continued through the ages, with many people and traditions today still viewing her as the great magical initiatrix.” (Hekate Her Sacred Fires, p33)

Hekate’s popularity continued from ancient Greece into the Roman Empire, and it was during this time that some of the greatest works associated with her were written, like the Chaldean Oracles (in the 2nd century CE) and the Greek Magical Papyri (2nd century BCE – 5th century CE). In Byzantium she was honoured for saving the city from invasion, and she was still being referred to by Byzantine historians in the 12th century CE, many centuries after Christianity had become the dominant religion there.

Hekate was hugely popular in the Renaissance amongst poets and authors, and her popularity has increased ever since, so that in more recent times she has become celebrated, invoked and venerated by the practitioners of numerous modern magical and spiritual traditions, including Ceremonial Magic, Christian Mysticism, Druidry, Goddess Spirituality, Initiatory Wicca (BTW), Luciferian Current, Paganism, Root Magic, Solomonic Magic, Sorcery, Thelema, Theurgy, and Traditional Witchcraft.

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