Hekate in Art

[Mithrea]

I have a question about Greek art that I thought I would see if any of you know the answer to.

I have been looking at images of art that depicts Hekate and it always or nearly always shows her left side facing to her right. Is there a specific reason for this?

[Theres]

hi Mith!

hmmm, i've never really noticed this before. i guess i'll have to go back and look again.
you are, i'm assuming, refering to classical images and not modern cra..., eh, i mean, art?

[patch]

I have noticed this too.
But if anything I think it is the nature of the art that exists. Coin heads and parts of murals etc.
I don't think it is anything specifically symbolic. :)

[Mithrea]

hi Mith!

hmmm, i've never really noticed this before. i guess i'll have to go back and look again.
you are, i'm assuming, refering to classical images and not modern cra..., eh, i mean, art?

Yes. In modern cra... she's usually depicted from the front ;)


Here are some examples: http://www.theoi.com/image/img_hekate.jpg
http://www.owlspiritsnest.com/images/hekate_p.jpg
http://www.uwec.edu/philrel/faculty/beach/images/hekate.jpg

Even Blake showed her in profile in the same direction: http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r252/pakillelea/HekateWilliamBlake.jpg

There are a few examples of her facing more the other way, but they seem to be mostly on jars. It just seems like most of what I see she's facing to the viewers left and I was wondering if there is any significance to it. :)

[Agaliha]

Hm. I highly doubt that this had any reasoning in ancient Greece, but I do know in Jungian (?) thinking the left is equated to the feminine, darkness, subconscious, night, moon, etc. It does sort of fit that Hekate would face that direction.

[Mithrea]

Hm. I highly doubt that this had any reasoning in ancient Greece, but I do know in Jungian (?) thinking the left is equated to the feminine, darkness, subconscious, night, moon, etc. It does sort of fit that Hekate would face that direction.

Still, it's curious :) Especially since she is still presented in that direction even when depicted with other goddesses like Bendis and Kybele.

I know I've read somewhere that the direction someone is facing in the art of some culture I can't think of had meaning. I just can't remember what culture it was. :weirdsmil

[YoungSoulRebel]

Yes. In modern cra... she's usually depicted from the front ;)


Here are some examples: http://www.theoi.com/image/img_hekate.jpg
http://www.owlspiritsnest.com/images/hekate_p.jpg
http://www.uwec.edu/philrel/faculty/beach/images/hekate.jpg

Even Blake showed her in profile in the same direction: http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r252/pakillelea/HekateWilliamBlake.jpg

There are a few examples of her facing more the other way, but they seem to be mostly on jars. It just seems like most of what I see she's facing to the viewers left and I was wondering if there is any significance to it. :)
For what it's worth, my own depiction of Hekate also faces Left:
http://rowan.sexyhobbitsuperstar.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=1338

...but then again, most of my paintings do.

[Mithrea]

For what it's worth, my own depiction of Hekate also faces Left:
http://rowan.sexyhobbitsuperstar.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=1338

...but then again, most of my paintings do.

Wow. Thank you for sharing that. Out of curiousity . . . are you left or right handed?

[Theres]

Wow. Thank you for sharing that. Out of curiousity . . . are you left or right handed?
hmmm... that's an interesting question.

i've been thinking of the relationship between the dark goddess and the so-called 'left-hand path', but i'm pretty sure that is a modern term.

if anyone is interested, i have been putting together a list of all known Hekate coins from antiquity. it's a work in progress, but it is already quite an extensive document.

and for the record, they are not all facing left. :)

[Cinnamon1991]

hmmm... that's an interesting question.

i've been thinking of the relationship between the dark goddess and the so-called 'left-hand path', but i'm pretty sure that is a modern term.

if anyone is interested, i have been putting together a list of all known Hekate coins from antiquity. it's a work in progress, but it is already quite an extensive document.

and for the record, they are not all facing left. :)

Oh IŽd be interested in that list, Theres :hahugh:

[Mithrea]

hmmm... that's an interesting question.

i've been thinking of the relationship between the dark goddess and the so-called 'left-hand path', but i'm pretty sure that is a modern term.

if anyone is interested, i have been putting together a list of all known Hekate coins from antiquity. it's a work in progress, but it is already quite an extensive document.

and for the record, they are not all facing left. :)

Of course we are interested! :)

[YoungSoulRebel]

Wow. Thank you for sharing that. Out of curiousity . . . are you left or right handed?

Ambidextrous.

[Zephyrstorm]

hmmm... that's an interesting question.

i've been thinking of the relationship between the dark goddess and the so-called 'left-hand path', but i'm pretty sure that is a modern term.

if anyone is interested, i have been putting together a list of all known Hekate coins from antiquity. it's a work in progress, but it is already quite an extensive document.

and for the record, they are not all facing left. :)

I'm interested, Theres. :weirdsmil

[Theres]

well damn, i seem to be having a hard time uploading the document. apparently it's too big, although the file size is within the attachment parameter.

when i get back from the woods i'll break it into smaller docs and try again.