References
- The Magical Greek Papyri
- The Goddess Hekate (Stephen Ronan)
- Hekate Liminal Rites (Sorita d’Este & David Rankine)
Here is a list of misconceptions that I have come across on magic forums that I think should be addressed.
1. Hekate is a crone
In ancient texts, such as the PGM, Hekate is referred to as a maiden and even a virgin. She was never depicted or referred to as a hag. Her threefold aspect has nothing to do with the modern “maiden, matron, crone” archetype.
2. Hekate is originally a Greek goddess
Hekate’s association with dogs suggests that she was a foreign goddess, and her earliest temples / lore / depictions suggest that she originated in Asia Minor (or at least came to the Greeks through that area).
3. Hekate is a moon goddess
Hekate came to be associated with moon over time, probably through conflation with Artemis and Selene. She is thought to have originally been regarded as a solar goddess.
4. Hekate is a dark goddess
Yes, but not exclusively. She is a liminal deity with as much association with the heavens as the underworld. The Chaldean Oracles place her in the Empyrean realms, in charge of archangels, and name her as “the world soul”.
5. Frogs are sacred to Hekate and she will be offended if you hurt one
Seeing as how dogs were sacrificed in her honor and early spells to her included killing and smearing lizards on wood, I find this unlikely.
6. The Stropholos is her symbol
The symbol modern pagans call the stropholos and associate with Hekate today was not actually related to her. I suppose, it is now. Which is fine; it’s just good to know the history behind these things.
Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong!