Spring Break
Hecate's Night
Marilyn Walker Copy Editor
Issue date: 11/1/06 Section: Features
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According to Zandra Nightmoon, Hecate, Ancient
Goddess of the crossroads, is the all seeing watcher
who can see into the past, present, and future. She
rules Heaven, Earth, and the Underworld. Her three
sacred symbols are the Key, the Scourge, and the
Dagger.
Hecate was seen as one of three Triple
Moon Goddesses, each one ruling a separate
realm of existence on Earth, in Heaven, and in
the Underworld. These interconnected realms
correspond to the lunar phases and Hecate is seen as
the dark new moon. Often personified as a triplicity,
she represents the three stages of womanhood: the
Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone.
Crossroads haunt the classical imagination.
They had a sinister reputation for many centuries,
as places of terror where terrible deeds had taken
place. Victims of violent crimes were often buried
at crossroads in the hope that Hecate would find
them quickly and dispatch them hastily to her
domain. Triple-faced figures of the goddess were
frequently found at crossroads, with offerings of
food left there by the ancient Greeks during special
festivals, particularly on the eve of a New Moon.
Her followers often left scraps of food, (referred to
as 'Hecate's supper') at this sacred place for dogs
to subsequently scavenge. Frequently a pole was
erected at the intersection and three masks would
be hung from it to pay homage to Hecate and to
request her guidance in helping to choose the right
direction. Three-faced masks also adorned the
entrances of many homes, honoring the goddess
Hecate who could, wield her influence over "the
spirits that traveled the earth" to keep them from
entering the household.
On her nocturnal wanderings,
Hecate was accompanied by an
entourage of infernal hounds.
Dogs were her sacred companions,
animals who follow a scent
"blindly". Hecate was usually
depicted with her sacred dogs, and
her animals were also sometimes
Goddess of the crossroads, is the all seeing watcher
who can see into the past, present, and future. She
rules Heaven, Earth, and the Underworld. Her three
sacred symbols are the Key, the Scourge, and the
Dagger.
Hecate was seen as one of three Triple
Moon Goddesses, each one ruling a separate
realm of existence on Earth, in Heaven, and in
the Underworld. These interconnected realms
correspond to the lunar phases and Hecate is seen as
the dark new moon. Often personified as a triplicity,
she represents the three stages of womanhood: the
Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone.
Crossroads haunt the classical imagination.
They had a sinister reputation for many centuries,
as places of terror where terrible deeds had taken
place. Victims of violent crimes were often buried
at crossroads in the hope that Hecate would find
them quickly and dispatch them hastily to her
domain. Triple-faced figures of the goddess were
frequently found at crossroads, with offerings of
food left there by the ancient Greeks during special
festivals, particularly on the eve of a New Moon.
Her followers often left scraps of food, (referred to
as 'Hecate's supper') at this sacred place for dogs
to subsequently scavenge. Frequently a pole was
erected at the intersection and three masks would
be hung from it to pay homage to Hecate and to
request her guidance in helping to choose the right
direction. Three-faced masks also adorned the
entrances of many homes, honoring the goddess
Hecate who could, wield her influence over "the
spirits that traveled the earth" to keep them from
entering the household.
On her nocturnal wanderings,
Hecate was accompanied by an
entourage of infernal hounds.
Dogs were her sacred companions,
animals who follow a scent
"blindly". Hecate was usually
depicted with her sacred dogs, and
her animals were also sometimes