In the 1st century CE, Virgil described the entrance to hell as "Hecate's Grove", though he says that Hecate is equally "powerful in Heaven and Hell." "[60] This suggests that Hecate's close association with dogs derived in part from the use of watchdogs, who, particularly at night, raised an alarm when intruders approached. I feel like I have more energy when I return to the office on Mondays if Ive spent some time outdoors on the weekend.. I am the One who calls to you at the end of your journey. An Exciting Provocation: John F. Millers Apollo, Augustus, and the Poets. Vergilius (1959-) 58 (2012): Wycherley, R. (1970). Little round cakes decorated with lit miniature torches were also offered on the eve of the New or Full Moon. This and other early depictions of Hecate lack distinctive attributes that would later be associated with her, such as a triple form or torches, and can only be identified as Hecate thanks to their inscriptions. An inscription on the statue is a dedication to Hecate, in writing of the style of the 6th century, but it otherwise lacks any other symbols typically associated with the goddess. Hecate was the goddess of borders, barriers, and boundaries. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. [63], Thanks to her association with boundaries and the liminal spaces between worlds, Hecate is also recognized as a chthonic (underworld) goddess. 1910191078, This page was last edited on 16 January 2023, at 05:56. The droves of kine and wide herds of goats and flocks of fleecy sheep, if she will, she increases from a few, or makes many to be less. That answer we just looked at is a nice catch-all answer if youre still not sure what you are passionate about, or what to say. Some nymphs in Greek mythology were famous, but others were only known in a certain time Echidna: Greek Mythologys Mother of Monsters. Hecate Hecate, goddess accepted at an early date into Greek religion but probably derived from the Carians in southwest Asia Minor. [99], Hecate's island ( ) also called Psamite (), was an islet in the vicinity of Delos. Well cover this too in one of the word-for-word answer examples coming up soon in this article! I am part of you, and I am within you. Because of this association, Hecate was one of the chief goddesses of the Eleusinian Mysteries, alongside Demeter and Persephone,[1] and there was a temple dedicated to her near the main sanctuary at Eleusis. Samhain is especially significant to Hecate, but several Festival days are celebrated in Her honour: The 13th August is the time to ask for Her blessing on the coming harvest, for as Goddess of Storms Hecate has the power to destroy the crop before it can be cut. In fact, she existed in such a nominal place that its difficult to say whether she existed as a singular goddess, a trio of beings, or as a minor aspect of a more major deity. roads, which she carries as she attends her mistress in the sky[68], This speech from the Root Cutters may or may not be an intentional association of Hecate with the Moon. It's commonly suggested that the crossroads symbolize Hecates triple nature and all-seeing ability, but there are deeper mysteries. Long before Hesiod and Homer began writing their poetry, the stories of the gods were passed on through oral tradition. The Matres While little is known of their exact function, over 1,000 images of the three goddesses have been found in Northwestern Europe. Remember that whatever is given to Hecate cannot be reclaimed, so don't use your best china. During this time Hecates power was still recognized: Zeus gave Her dominion over Heaven, Earth and Sea, and they shared the right to grant or withhold gifts from humanity. She appears in Ovid's Metamorphoses. However, I am suggesting that if you go interview for a Nursing job, and you say that your passion is playing online video games, theyre going to wonder about how hard youre going to work. It is the longest living creature in Europe, and naturally 'resurrects' itself: As the central trunk dies, a new tree grows within the rotting core. In two fragments of Aeschylus she appears as a great goddess. He is told to sweeten the offering with a libation of honey, then to retreat from the site without looking back, even if he hears the sound of footsteps or barking dogs. Of course, if you have a different passion that you want to mention, thats fine, too. According to the Encyclopaedia of Ancient Deities, Hecate 'was only worshipped at night by torchlight'. Hecate particularly appreciates honey & magic mushrooms if you have them - Well, it is supposed to be a sacrifice! [17] The word "heka" in the Egyptian language is also both the word for "magic" and the name of the god of magic and medicine, Heka. The yew has strong associations with death as well as rebirth. [Hekate] teaches the, Although usually the daughter of Hyperion and Theia, as in, Magliocco, Sabina. The triple Hecate represented three aspects of a single goddess. Hekate's Suppers, by K. F. Smith. Hecates name has several possible meanings. I am the fury which rips the flesh from injustice. Anatolia, which covered most of what is now Turkey, was a region that had close ties to the Greek world. According to Hesiod, she held sway over many things: Whom she will she greatly aids and advances: she sits by worshipful kings in judgement, and in the assembly whom she will is distinguished among the people. Hesoid claims that She was born of the Titan Perses and the star goddess Asteria. In the next example, well look at how to talk about how your passion relates to the specific role. I make the arrogant humble. Have three masks (decorate your own with powerful, meaningful symbols) that symbolize past, present, future (maiden, mother, crone). If you only honour Her once in the year, this is the time to do it! In Early Modern English, the name was also pronounced disyllabically (as /hk.t/) and sometimes spelled Hecat. Of course, as with many stories of Hecate there was also a darker version. The main purpose of the Deipnon was to honour Hecate and to placate the souls in her wake who "longed for vengeance. Still another school of thought links her, at least linguistically, to Egypt. Many of the rituals described in ancient texts, for example the elaborate sacrifice of a ewe in Argonautica, are in keeping with what is known about the worship of other deities of the underworld. Biron Clark is a former executive recruiter who has worked individually with hundreds of job seekers, reviewed thousands of resumes and LinkedIn profiles, and recruited for top venture-backed startups and Fortune 500 companies. Caria was a major center of worship and her most famous temple there was located in the town of Lagina. Hecate is the Titan Goddess of witchcraft, necromancy, ghosts, crossroads (choices), magic and the Moon in Greek Mythology. "The legend of the Argonauts is among the earliest known to the Greeks," observes Peter Green, A collection of vase-paintings of Hecate fighting Clytius can be seen. It could also be that the fragment reads 'Phorcys', agreeing with Acusilaus' version. Hecate was believed to be a goddess of both the living world and the underworld. She was increasingly depicted as roaming the earth on moonless nights in the company of baying dogs and the hungry spirits of those dead who were not ready to die, those who were murdered or not given appropriate burial rites. [117], Hesiod's inclusion and praise of Hecate in the Theogony has been troublesome for scholars, in that he seems to hold her in high regard, while the testimony of other writers, and surviving evidence, suggests that this may have been the exception. Hecate's appearance is dark-haired and beautiful, but with an eerie edge to that beauty befitting a goddess of the night (though the actual goddess of the night is Nyx). Saying you enjoy self-improvement and that you enjoy learning new things will make you seem like a great person for them to hire. Now that weve looked at steps and tips for how to answer what are you passionate about?, lets look at some word-for-word sample answers. Pp. Hecate (sometimes spelled Hekate) was a pre-Olympian Greek goddessshe may have had Thracian originsand ruled over the realms of earth and fertility rituals. Some say that Hecate is the daughter of Erebus and Nyx, ageless Goddess of the night, while others believe that She is one of the Furies or the last surviving Titan except for Zeus. Im always looking to challenge myself and learn new things. She was often shown holding two torches, such as would be found beside gates, to allow her to illuminate both sides of a boundary. Then youd go on to explain how Nursing seemed like the perfect career, given this passion of yours. [53], A number of other plants (often poisonous, medicinal and/or psychoactive) are associated with Hecate. Hecate henceforth acts as a guide for Persephone on Her journeys between the worlds. The dog is also well known as a guardian of the house, standing at the front door to stand watch, and this seems to relate to Hecates role as guardian. DeTraci Regula is a freelance writer who has specialized in Greek travel and tours for 18 years. Were going to go through four real-world examples that you can use to create your own response that will wow the hiring manager. I also feel that it helps me to be more creative in other aspects of my life. Were the two aspects associated or confused in some way? However, there is evidence that Hecate evolved from the Egyptian midwife goddess Heqit, (alternatively spelt 'Heket' or 'Hekat'.) Note that in this answer, youre describing how your passion relates to your industry overall. 'She who works Her will' is the most commonly accepted, but 'the far-off one' or 'far-darting one' is also suggested. Hecate is defined by her powerful magic, being at ease with the night and darkness and in wild surroundings. Whether your style is more witchy, gothic, halloween, heavy metal, rocker, punk, or goddess, or all of the above, our unique jewelry pieces are perfect for your statement. While spinning them, they call out unintelligible or beast-like sounds, laughing and flailing at the air. But the version of Hecate that appears in Greek texts is not so straightforward. Instead, some believe that the goddess originated in Asia Minor. Prayer for Hekate un de qsdq In the Michigan magical papyrus (inv. Black dogs were once sacrificed to Her in purification rituals, and Hecate could manifest as a dog. The Greeks likewise borrowed many deities and legends from their eastern neighbors. Writings throughout the centuries have woven different tales about Hecate and her role as a goddess. Hecate, however, was not just a goddess shown in three parts. Those who failed to win the goddesss favor could expect her to invite evil and misfortune into their lives. She is often displayed holding two torches or a key. ", "I am the Sorceress that will not be ruled, the Weaver of Time, the Teacher of Mysteries. This concept became a central figure in many later versions of polytheism. It's great to have one passion in each area. She was an attendant of the goddess Persephone, daughter of Demeter, who was abducted by Hades and taken into the Underworld. This was a terrible fate. He also performs other secret rites [of Hecate] at four pits, taming the fierceness of the blasts [of the winds], and he is said to chant as well the charms of Medea. There is ample evidence that Hecate was honoured there too, perhaps as a guide for initiates into the Mysteries. The beginnings of Hecates worship are shrouded in mystery. at the crossroads The potion in Hecates cauldron contains 'slips of yew'. Hordern, J. H. Love Magic and Purification in Sophron, PSI 1214a, and Theocritus Pharmakeutria. The Classical Quarterly 52, no. Hecate, however, took pity on Galinthias. She scorns and insults Artemis, who in retribution eventually brings about the mortal's suicide. This made her one of the few deities to have the power to move freely between the world of the living and the underworld. She was born into the world ruled by the Titans, but continued to be influential and powerful in the Olympian pantheon. Open yourself to my embrace and overcome. It is possible that the representation of a triple Hecate surrounding a central pillar was originally derived from poles set up at three-way crossroads with masks hung on them, facing in each road direction. Hecate appears in many plays and poems as the personification of darkness, the moon, and magic. Antoninus Liberalis used a myth to explain this association: Aelian told a different story of a woman transformed into a polecat: Athenaeus of Naucratis, drawing on the etymological speculation of Apollodorus of Athens, notes that the red mullet is sacred to Hecate, "on account of the resemblance of their names; for that the goddess is trimorphos, of a triple form". 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