Is Hecate a crone?

[David19]

This is something I'd like to know more about, but a lot of Pagans will say that Hecate is a crone goddess (or just an "aspect" of "The Goddess"), but was she really a crone in ancient times, like was she depicted as old.

I've read that she was normally depicted as either a beautiful young woman or with 3 heads (some/all of them being dog heads), these don't sound like being an old crone to me.

Anyway, I'd appreciate any help you could give me, as Hecate is definantly a very interesting goddess that I'd like to learn more about.

BTW, just forgot, does anyone know of any myths that Hecate features in?, it's just I can't seem to find much online, and I'd like to read a bit more about her.

Thanks again.

[Astara Seague]

In the book Mythology by Edith Hamilton
she is described as the Goddess of the dark of the moon living in the lower world, and in the world above when the moon is dark, she was associated with deeds of darkness ..the Goddess of the crossways , which was deemed to be ghostly places and evil magic and apperently the three hounds of hell were her pets..
other then that I dont know much about her

[Theres]

This is something I'd like to know more about, but a lot of Pagans will say that Hecate is a crone goddess (or just an "aspect" of "The Goddess"), but was she really a crone in ancient times, like was she depicted as old.

I've read that she was normally depicted as either a beautiful young woman or with 3 heads (some/all of them being dog heads), these don't sound like being an old crone to me.

Anyway, I'd appreciate any help you could give me, as Hecate is definantly a very interesting goddess that I'd like to learn more about.

BTW, just forgot, does anyone know of any myths that Hecate features in?, it's just I can't seem to find much online, and I'd like to read a bit more about her.

Thanks again.
in classical Greece Hekate was never depicted as anything other than a young woman. the first depiction of Her as triform was probably Alkamenes statue which stood at the Propylaia on the Acropolis (three goddesses back to back).

by the Hellenistic and Roman age She was often depicted with three heads, sometimes human, sometimes animal, but again never as an old woman.

it seems that the 'crone' identification is a relatively modern reclassification, probably stemming from Her association with death and transformation, crone attributes in many neoPagan traditions, possibly helped along by the 'Queen of the Witches' (ie; "hags") moniker She aquired after Alexander (and Shakespeare's 'MacBeth').

the fact is that Hekate doesn't appear in many classical myths. Jason and Demeter/Persephone are the first to come to mind.
by later times She appears a bit more, but mostly in plays. Lucan writes of Her, as does Seneca. Horace and Virgil too, although Her role here is more as anti-witchcraft propaganda it seems. but again these last ones show Hekate more as 'dramatis personae' than as a vital goddess in myth.

hope this helps.

[Shawn Blackwolf]

David :

You know , of course , there is bound to be much information
in the files here...ask the forum guide...

However...I am going to offer you a different view , from the
Olde Faery Tradition...there shall be many who offer you information...
This , is what I know , very well...Tradition , not books , or research...

Olde Name :

H - Ecka - Th - E - Ea

Number value = 347

Number value for word Spiret , also = 347

H = letter value for symbol meaning harsh agent of change , storms , wind ,
divine breath , spin ...many other meanings...

Pronunciation : Aeggle : thus Haeggle : As in to Haggle...
Yet , to Hag ...in Africa , can mean astral travel ...interesting ?

Ecka : Sound combined with letter value for symbol , meaning
oath , faith , trust , belief , ancestral memory , future memory ,
and charge...yet , ecka , means " one" ...

Heck / Hecka : meant Magic / Majick / Mgieck , however spelled...

( Note also , forces of spin , and charge...look into quantum physics ;
see how those forces apply to Magick...)

Th / E / Ea

Letter values for our Maiden , Mother , and Crone Runes ,
specifically...Runic equivalents for the three Mother Letters
in Obri...Aleph , Mem , and Shin ....

When our three symbols are fit together , they make the shape of
the ancient Birthing Goddess , or Squatting Woman...

There are many , many layers of meaning to those three symbols...
Which cover all the present information , available , regarding the
to my tradition , modern ideas of Hecate , and her origins...

And more...

I should be teaching in a month , or so...I will be posting that info then...

Blessings...Hope you get what you want , here...:)

[David19]

Thanks to all 3 of you for replying, all the info helps and also is interesting.



in classical Greece Hekate was never depicted as anything other than a young woman. the first depiction of Her as triform was probably Alkamenes statue which stood at the Propylaia on the Acropolis (three goddesses back to back).

by the Hellenistic and Roman age She was often depicted with three heads, sometimes human, sometimes animal, but again never as an old woman.

it seems that the 'crone' identification is a relatively modern reclassification, probably stemming from Her association with death and transformation, crone attributes in many neoPagan traditions, possibly helped along by the 'Queen of the Witches' (ie; "hags") moniker She aquired after Alexander (and Shakespeare's 'MacBeth').

the fact is that Hekate doesn't appear in many classical myths. Jason and Demeter/Persephone are the first to come to mind.
by later times She appears a bit more, but mostly in plays. Lucan writes of Her, as does Seneca. Horace and Virgil too, although Her role here is more as anti-witchcraft propaganda it seems. but again these last ones show Hekate more as 'dramatis personae' than as a vital goddess in myth.

hope this helps.

Thanks for the info, and I have another question, was Hecate ever popular as a god in ancient times, like did people make offerings to her, and did anyone ever have or claim to have her as a patron god, or was she more feared as a goddess or possibly thought of as "evil" (I know that witchcraft/magic was looked down upon and made illegal in some cases, although it was widely practiced in private).

I can't remember if I'm remembering this right, but in ancient times, didn't homes have a statue of Hecate in the courtyard that would protect it and those inside from evil magic, ghosts and other spirits?.

Edit: BTW, does anyone have any good recommendations for books on Hecate?.

Thanks again for any help anyone can provide.

[Theres]

Thanks for the info, and I have another question, was Hecate ever popular as a god in ancient times, like did people make offerings to her, and did anyone ever have or claim to have her as a patron god, or was she more feared as a goddess or possibly thought of as "evil" (I know that witchcraft/magic was looked down upon and made illegal in some cases, although it was widely practiced in private).

I can't remember if I'm remembering this right, but in ancient times, didn't homes have a statue of Hecate in the courtyard that would protect it and those inside from evil magic, ghosts and other spirits?.

Edit: BTW, does anyone have any good recommendations for books on Hecate?.

Thanks again for any help anyone can provide.
again, it depends on the era you're talking about.
but yes, in the classical age doorways were often protected with a statue of Hekate Propylaia, or guardian.
Her cult was always small, and Her sanctuaries usually consisted of a small propylaic temple at the entrance to other sanctuaries (particulatly Artemis).
the largest sanctuary we know of that was dedicated exclusively to Hekate was at Lagina, near the ancient city of Stratonikiea in Karia (modern Turkey, near the city of Mugla).

offering were made to Hekate during small home rituals, probably similar to those offered to Hestia. and we know of small votive statues left at other sanctuaries during this time too. one of the earliest known is a simple enthroned goddess which is only distinguishable from similar statues of Rhea, Kybele, etc. by the inscription Ekata'.

by the Hellenistic period She had 'devolved' from a guardian and protectress to the goddess of witches, and offerings during this time were usually black dogs or lambs, etc.

'Hekate Soteira' by S.I. Johnston is the best book i have read on Her, although this deals mostly with Hekate's role in the Chaldean Oracles and related neoPlatonic systems.
Robert von Rudloff's 'Hekate in Ancient Greek Religion' is a pretty good overview of Her classical period, but not terribly in depth.
L.R. Farnell wrote a series of books in the 1890's about Greek mystery cults, and volume two of these deals with Hekate, as well as Artemis, Aphrodite and Iphigenia.
i'm at work right now so most of this is off the top of my head. i'll post more when i get home if i've left out any good books here.

[David19]

again, it depends on the era you're talking about.
but yes, in the classical age doorways were often protected with a statue of Hekate Propylaia, or guardian.
Her cult was always small, and Her sanctuaries usually consisted of a small propylaic temple at the entrance to other sanctuaries (particulatly Artemis).
the largest sanctuary we know of that was dedicated exclusively to Hekate was at Lagina, near the ancient city of Stratonikiea in Karia (modern Turkey, near the city of Mugla).

offering were made to Hekate during small home rituals, probably similar to those offered to Hestia. and we know of small votive statues left at other sanctuaries during this time too. one of the earliest known is a simple enthroned goddess which is only distinguishable from similar statues of Rhea, Kybele, etc. by the inscription Ekata'.

by the Hellenistic period She had 'devolved' from a guardian and protectress to the goddess of witches, and offerings during this time were usually black dogs or lambs, etc.

'Hekate Soteira' by S.I. Johnston is the best book i have read on Her, although this deals mostly with Hekate's role in the Chaldean Oracles and related neoPlatonic systems.
Robert von Rudloff's 'Hekate in Ancient Greek Religion' is a pretty good overview of Her classical period, but not terribly in depth.
L.R. Farnell wrote a series of books in the 1890's about Greek mystery cults, and volume two of these deals with Hekate, as well as Artemis, Aphrodite and Iphigenia.
i'm at work right now so most of this is off the top of my head. i'll post more when i get home if i've left out any good books here.

Thanks for the book list, I'll try and check some out, I think I've heard good things about S.I. Johnston and the book 'Hekate Soteira'.