Hecate. The Goddess Hecate. The Goddess Hecate is a triple Goddess in that She rules the Heavens, Earth and the Underworld. During the times of Hecate, there really was no such thing as a Crone. Dark Goddess yes. Crone, no. If you look at images of any Goddesses, they are never depicted as old. Dark Goddesses in ancient times did not mean old but merely an aspect of what they represented. The Goddess Hecate is Mistress of the Night and represents the waning to dark cycle of the Moon, and most particularly the three days of the dark moon. To the Neopagans, in Her maiden aspect, she stands for new beginnings. Hecate teaches us an important lesson, which is that the feminine should be valued for itself, not because it brings sexuality or power, but because deep within it there is an eternal wisdom.
Hecate, who sits enthroned before the Veil of the Temple as the High Priestess, the card in the Tarot which is ruled by the Moon. Hecate originally was a Thracian and pre-Olympian Goddess. (Hecate~Trivia) Hecate. Hecate, Greek Goddess of The Crossroads. Hecate, Greek goddess of the three paths, guardian of the household, protector of everything newly born, and the goddess of witchcraft -- once a widely revered and influential goddess, the reputation of Hecate has been tarnished over the centuries.
In current times, she is usually depicted as a "hag" or old witch stirring the cauldron. But nothing could be further from the image of Hecate's original glory. A beautiful and powerful goddess in her own right, the Greek goddess Hecate was the only one of the ancient Titans who Zeus allowed to retain their authority once the Olympians seized control. Zeus shared with Hecate, and only her, the awesome power of giving humanity anything she wished (or withholding it if she pleased).
Usually classified as a "moon goddess", her kingdoms were actually three-fold . . . the earth, sea, and sky. In other legends she is invisible, perhaps only glimpsed as a light, a "will-o-the-wisp". She knew what the rest of us did not. HECATE : Greek goddess of witchcraft, ghosts & magic ; mythology ; pictures : HEKATE. Hecate. Ancient Greek goddess of magic and crossroads Hecate was one of the main deities worshiped in Athenian households as a protective goddess and one who bestowed prosperity and daily blessings on the family.[5] In the post-Christian writings of the Chaldean Oracles (2nd–3rd century CE) she was regarded with (some) rulership over earth, sea, and sky, as well as a more universal role as Savior (Soteira), Mother of Angels and the Cosmic World Soul.[6][7] Regarding the nature of her cult, it has been remarked, "she is more at home on the fringes than in the center of Greek polytheism.
Intrinsically ambivalent and polymorphous, she straddles conventional boundaries and eludes definition. "[8] Name and origin[edit] The origin of the name Hecate (Ἑκάτη, Hekátē) and the original country of her worship are both unknown, though several theories have been proposed. Greek origin[edit] R. Egyptian origin[edit] Anatolian origin[edit] Later development[edit] Iconography[edit] Sacred animals[edit]