Shrine to Hecate

Who is Hecate? She is the Goddess of Witchcraft, Necromancy, Ghosts, Magic, and, in some instances, the Night, Darkness, The Mist, and Moon. For some She is also the goddess of motherhood, protection, and the sea. She is a Hellenic deity, born of the Titans Asteria and Perses. There’s a few beliefs circling around Her being a crone goddess or a Triple Goddess, but those are modern and neopagan beliefs—which She predates. I also consider Her to be a part of the Chthonic deities.

Symbology: Black dogs, Wolves, Keys, Torches, Flames, Torches, Crossroads, Serpents, Daggers, Birds of Prey (crows, ravens, owls), the Moon, witchcraft tools (such as cauldrons, tarot, athames)

Offerings & Devotional Acts for Her:

Figurines of any of Her symbols

keys, skeleton keys, lockets

fire witchcraft and candles, flames, matchsticks

dedicating any lunar or symbolic jewelry to Her

black/dark crystals such as obsidian and onyx

nocturnal animal imagery

black/cool colored glitter

baneful/poisonous herbs and plants

pomegranates/berries (She seems to really like blackberries)

dark blend wines

honey, cinnamon, poppy seeds, chocolates (dark)

mugwort, lavender, roses, jasmine, dragon’s blood

bones and feathers from birds of prey (please check your local laws about obtaining these)

pinpricks of blood (please DO NOT attempt this if you struggle with self harm/etc, blood magic is particularly strong and isn’t for everyone. She will understand if you cannot offer that to her).

Taking midnight walks, setting up altars and rituals at crossroads, paying respects to the dead and practicing your craft in a cemetery 

Any playlists, poems, literature, whether it be your own or just a piece you associate with Her, also make wonderful offerings. 

Lunar Influences & Connections: Reaching out to Hecate tends to work best at night, and really any time the moon is at it’s peak. The Witching Hours, midnight to 3A.M., during strong lunar influences (blue moons, blood moons, eclipses, new moons, etc) all hold strong bonds with Hecate. Also, any time it is particularly foggy or your surroundings are covered in a mist is a good time to try to connect with Her.

🗝 I think of witches working their spells

🗝 I think of those past being guided safely to the afterlife

🗝 I think of bonfires at midnight

🗝 I think of taking the path less traveled

🗝 I think of walking in the woods and finding yourself

🗝 I think of meditation with incense and candles

🗝 I think of changing your life with the rebirth of a new moon

“She stands overlooking a great void. The endless darkness stretches out before Her, empty but anticipating Her divine inspiration.

She lifts Her finger. The void trembles. Then, a bright flash in the darkness - a galaxy is born. 

She smiles, and the void sings. 

She inhales, and the newborn galaxy is filled with a trillion lives.

She closes Her fingers into a fist, and then, catastrophe. In the distance, a sun explodes, and a trillion lives are brought to an end. 

She weeps, and the void sings. 

She exhales, and a trillion souls are delivered to their Afterlife.”

Hekate the Greek Titaness

Warning: This post is extremely long. Sorry for the length, but this was mostly a devotional act to Hekate anyway

While the Titans ruled the world, Hekate was ordained supreme in the realms of land, sea, and sky. She was highly-respected, if not also a bit obscure. When Zeus began his rebellion, though, she favored him over his father and empowered him to successfully usurp the Titans. After these events, Hekate retained her supremacy in the three worlds, receiving great honor and praise from Zeus himself. Some legends even state that Zeus - the king of the gods - calls upon her mighty power whenever a mortal prays to the gods for favor.

Hekate the Goddess of Crossroads

During both ancient Greek and Roman times, Hekate/Hecate was considered a goddess of transitional states and in-between periods. Among many things, she ruled over entryways and roads, and her altars could often be found near crossroads and city gates. Travelers, traders, pilgrims, and sailors all prayed to her for safe travel. It was also believed that she could bar entry to intruders or evil-doers, and so people erected private altars to her in their homes beside the front door.

She also ruled over transitions in the metaphysical sense. As psychopomp, she trecked across the land on the night of every Dark Moon and gathered the spirits of the newly deceased and the restless dead, shepherding them safely to the afterlife. She embodies this role explicitly in the tale of Persephone. When Persephone first goes to the Underworld, it is Hekate who alerts her mother, Demeter, where she’s gone. Hekate then descends to the Underworld to retrieve her, only to find that Persephone can never fully return to the upper world because she’s already eaten the food of the dead. As a result, Persephone must journey to and from the Underworld twice a year, spending only half the year in either world, and Hekate accompanies her on these journeys.

Hekate the Queen of Witches

The idea of Hekate as a ‘Queen of Witches’ wasn’t extremely popularized until she appeared in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. In it, she is literally depicted as THE Queen of Witches, counseling and dictating the actions of the three Weird Sisters throughout the play. 

She does appear as a Goddess of Witches prior to that, though. Most famously, perhaps, she is the matron goddess of the witch Medea. In that ancient Greek tale, she is a protectress, empowerer, and teacher. Every act of magic that Medea performs is in Hekate’s honor, and in several instances she directly requires Hekate’s assistance to accomplish her goals. 

Hekate has always been associated with witchcraft, enlightenment, and the secret arts of herbalism and magic, however. She is called upon extensively in the Greek Magical Papyri, a 2nd-century-BCE compendium of spells and rituals meant for everything from obtaining a lover to invoking the primordial forces of creation. She also plays an extremely important role in the Chaldean Oracles, a 2nd-century CE set of writings that laid the foundation for Neoplatonic Gnosticism, in which Hecate is seen as the mediating Female Intellect that arose from the original (male) spark of Creation. She was also one of the few exclusive deities honored at the Eleusinian Mystery rituals performed in Ancient Greece, wherein celebrants spent several days imbibing hallucinogenic liquor and channeling the gods in order to uncover the mysteries of life, death, and the universe.  

In some mystery traditions, she is known as the Cosmic World Soul - a subtle life-force that animates everything in nature, similar to Gaia. In this capacity, she embodies everything within our world, including us. 

Some traditions know her as the Axis Mundi (World Axis) - an energetic singularity that our world originates from. It is metaphorically the ‘center’ of our world - a point where the four cardinal directions meet (echoed by the modern technique of casting a Circle and calling the Corners) - where energy can be harnessed and used to commune between higher and lower dimensions. 

Some traditions call her the Soteira (the Savior) - an ultimately beneficent being that actively helps every creature in our world reach spiritual evolution. In this role, her goal is to help us fully integrate our Shadows so that we can escape the cycle of physical reincarnation. 

Regardless of tradition, religion, or historical period, she is always viewed as a strange, liminal, and omnipotent force of both order and chaos. She is powerful, respected, and vital to every story she appears in. She guides and progresses the menial affairs of mortals, and she orchestrates grand paradigm shifts in universal energy. She is both extremely worldly, and also unfathomably celestial.

Hekate in Modern Times

One of the strangest things about Hekate is how universal she can be. Even in ancient times, she was a very wide-spread goddess. She may have been popularized by Greek and Roman culture, but most historians agree that she did not originate in either of those places. Most likely, the ‘Hekate/Hecate’ we know is a Hellenized version of an even older, more obscure goddess. No one is even sure of where her name comes from, because it doesn’t directly translate into any languages of that time period. The best guesses we have as to its meaning? ‘She who wills’. ‘She who works from afar’. ‘The Far-Reaching One’. 

Her transience and universality are true even today. I have met Santeros and Mambos who work with Hekate, and I have met orthodox Kabbalists who work with her as well. I’ve met followers of hers who were Buddhists, Hindus, root workers, Reiki healers, Nordic pagans, and even Native American spiritualists. Somehow, she finds a way into the lives of all her chosen children, and she carves out a spot for herself in whatever paradigm they already follow. 

Those who choose to follow her path often walk a very solitary journey, but she has so many followers within the modern Pagan community that it’s quite hard not to run into a few. She has experienced quite a resurgence within the last hundred years, and dozens of books have been written describing her and her mysteries. She has devotees the world over, and is honored by thousands of them every year in the Rite of Her Sacred Fires - a synchronized, world-wide ritual that occurs every year in May. 

Hekate in My Practice

Hekate tried multiple times to get my attention, and every time she sat back and patiently waited as I ignored her call. It wasn’t until I had been practicing witchcraft for almost five years that I finally was receptive enough to answer. 

When I did, a whole world opened up that I never knew existed. It was as if my eyes had been opened to everything I had been searching for, and - one step at a time - she helped me to achieve all of it. 

She is the goddess of crossroads and transitions, of death and of rebirth. She rules of the affairs of men, and she chooses the victor of every mortal competition. She bestows both providence and damnation, and she leads humans to their ultimate destiny - for better or for worse. She imparts wisdom, compassion, and mercy. She strikes down oppressors and those who wrong her children. She is a devout protectress of travelers, children, and dogs, and she possesses the hidden knowledge of every thing in Nature. 

She is an ever-present, ever-watchful goddess who never, EVER misses a thing. Many of her devotees report that her actions are present in everything, and that she speaks through every occurrence within our day-to-day life. I find that this is entirely true. Her messages can be so subtle yet speak so loudly. She calls out to you in ways that only YOU would understand. A feather falling in front of your face. A specific song playing on the radio. A phone ringing that only you can hear.

Energetically, she feels like a heavy, titanic presence when she enters the room. When she is called upon, everything around you begins to vibrate. It’s as if everything in nature responds when her name is called. She is a goddess that you can tangibly FEEL, and sometimes that doesn’t even accurately describe the experience. She is capable of bending reality in ways that shatter the ego and undo the psyche, and her presence reflects that immensely. 

Symbols

Hounds, especially black ones, whom travels with through the night

Crossroads, especially three-way crossroads (”forks in the road”)

Tridents

Cliffs, especially where the land meets the sea

High places, such as the tops of buildings, trees, or mountains

Keys, for she holds the key to every locked door

Torches, especially when depicted as a pair of twin torches

Serpents, for she facilitates rebirth and contains all hidden knowledge

Cemeteries/Graves, for she shepherds the dead

Epithets

An epithet is effectively a title added on to the end of a name to give further meaning or description of that person. In the case of deities, epithets are used to describe a specific ability or domain of that goddess or god, especially when petitioning them for a specific reason. Hekate’s epithets are many, but here are some of my favorites: 

Adamantaea - the unconquerable

Apotropaios - the averting

Brimo - the terrifying

Chthonia - of the earth

Damasandra - the subduer of men

Damnomeneia - the dominating one

Enodia - of the path

Kalliste - the fairest

Phosphoros - the bringer of light

Propylaia - the one before the gate

Soteira - the savior

Trimorphos - the three-formed

Trivia - of the three ways

To Call Upon Hekate

I would never advise AGAINST calling Hekate into your life. Even if you don’t work with deities, or even if you already work with specific deities, she will find a way to fit into your life and help you to improve both your life and yourself. However, she is a demanding task-mistress, and calling upon her should never be done lightly. A common belief among her followers is that, once you open the door to her, she will never leave you alone again. To open the door to her: 

Seclude yourself in a dark, quiet place where you can remain undisturbed. 

Light a single candle - preferably black or red - and set it in front of you. 

Lay out three keys around the candle (they can literally be keys to anything, but a key to your front door is always good to include). 

Meditate with the candle flame, and when you are ready, call her name three times. Speak from the heart, and tell her what it is you seek from her. Finish by thanking her for her time, and by inviting her inside. 

Extinguish the candle and, if possible, allow the smoke to drift out a window. 

1- Hecate

Greek Titan of Witches, Witchcraft, Sorcery, and Crossroads.

When I first began this project, I knew that I wanted to end with Hecate. She is simultaneously the final and the first, our alpha and omega of Witchcraft. She dominates popular witch lore, but you would never know it as she resides in the shadows, side plots, and brief mentions. Only when you seek her out does she reveal herself to you, lighting your path while casting shadows and ghosts. Many, if not all, modern Witches, Pagans, and Wiccans see Hecate as a Goddess of Witches, amongst other appropriate attributes, and continue her worship and reverence now several thousand years ongoing.

As is the case with most of Greek Mythology, Hecate has multiple origin myths and genealogies. This is most likely the result of her originating outside of the Greeks, and being adapted and merged with the existing pantheon. Most traditions have Hecate as the daughter of the Titans Perses, titan of destruction, and Asteria, titan of falling stars and nocturnal prophecy. Hecate was their only child, and was able to retain her powers post Zeus’ coup as she helped him fight the Giants. As child of Asteria, her grandmother was the Titan of the Moon, Phoebe, and her cousin was Olympian lunar all-star Artemis.

There are various stories in which Hecate plays a part. Her most notable and appropriate for this time of year, however, is her integral role in assisting Demeter’s search for her beloved daughter, Persephone. Upon Persephone’s decent into Hades, Hecate, through the light of her torches, helped Demeter discover her daughter in the underworld. As such, Hecate has become a chthonic Goddess, and Persephone’s yearly attendant and psychopomp to the underworld. Her position as gatekeeper and guide to Hades solidifies many of her numerous attributes.

Hecate is associated with ghosts, necromancy, and magic. She is identified with crossroads, torches, and dark hounds. She was a common household deity for the Athenian—her shrines placed in doorways and city gates to both protect from restless spirits and bestow blessings and safe passage. Her worship and cult was as extensive as her various attributes, with temples and shrines scattered across the Mediterranean. As a key figure in the Persephone saga, Hecate was integral in the ancient Eleusinian Mysteries, impacting secret societies and occult rituals to this day.

Out of all her characteristics, her association with the crossroads is perhaps the most pertinent to my series. Most often, we think of crossroads as the intersection of two roads, yielding four directions. This was not always the case, however, as it was more common to have a proverbial ‘fork in the road’, yielding three directions. This is the kind of crossroads in which Hecate resides. Her statues depict her in triplicity, forearms outstretched, holding torches, keys, serpents, daggers, etc. One face in each direction, Hecate is the arbiter of passages, and in this way is the consort of the God Hermes.

Hecate is one of the original Triple Goddesses of Witchcraft, if not the primordial one. Her triplicity has defined much of Modern Pagan theology, with her stance representing the three phases of the moon, Waxing, Full, and Waning (Maiden, Mother, Crone respectively). Her mythological genealogy as the granddaughter of Phoebe and cousin to Artemis has yielded Hecate as a Goddess of the Moon in her own right, most often known as the unseen phase of the moon, the New Moon (however she is just as often associated with all moon phases). In Greek/Roman Mythology, Hecate joins many lunar goddesses in addition to Phoebe and Artemis, including Selene and Diana. The five were often conflated, confused, and worshiped both in tandem and in conflict. This ever shifting, impossible to pin down, lunar association echos her transient nature of existing in the shadows.

Hecate is both mysterious and severe. Her face is hidden behind her torches, or on the dark side of the moon, however her presence is a constant. She is life, death, and rebirth. She is both light and dark magic. She was beloved in her association with rites of passage like childbirth, and feared in her role as Queen of Shades, present at the final rite of passage, death. Her nature has permeated my entire series in such a profound and indescribable way, I can only show you:

#93: Lilith— often worshiped by modern Pagans in tandem with Hecate #92: Circe: Daughter of Hecate #89, #54, #39: Bewitched: A common expression “For Hecate’s Sake!” Occurs throughout the show. #79: Aradia: Daughter of Lucifer and Diana. Often seen as the daughter of an amalgamated Diana-Hecate. #70: Medea: Priestess of Hecate #67: Charmed: The Halliwell Sisters: Appears in the episode “The Wedding from Hell” #56: Ceridwen: Often worshiped in tandem with Hecate as Dark Mothers by modern Pagans. . #52, #27: Practical Magic: The necromancy ritual the Owen’s Sisters perform, albeit pronounced incorrectly. “Black as night, erase death from our sight. White as light, Mighty Hecate make it right.” #10: Willow Rosenberg: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Mentioned in several episodes and referred to as “Queen and Protectress of Witches.” #7: American Horror Story: Coven: Supreme Fiona Goode invokes Hecate “Come to me Hecate, Mother of Angels, Cosmic World Soul.” #5: The Weird Sisters: Macbeth: Hecate is their master

This list is pretty fitting for a Goddess whose name etymologically may mean “she that operates from afar.” She is seldom a central figure or even visible, however witches from the Owens to the Goodes, from Willow Rosenberg to Endora, invoke her name and ask for her spirit, guidance, and presence. Hecate, in many ways, is both the first witch, and the last. She is our alpha and omega. She is the embodiment of power and strength. As a Goddess of Witchcraft, she does not merely exist in the margins of society like the rest of us—She is the margin itself.

Hail Hecate.

“Hecate, Cerridwen. Dark Mother take us in. Hecate, Cerridwen. Let us be reborn.”  

1- Hecate

Greek Titan of Witches, Witchcraft, Sorcery, and Crossroads.

When I first began this project, I knew that I wanted to end with Hecate. She is simultaneously the final and the first, our alpha and omega of Witchcraft. She dominates popular witch lore, but you would never know it as she resides in the shadows, side plots, and brief mentions. Only when you seek her out does she reveal herself to you, lighting your path while casting shadows and ghosts. Many, if not all, modern Witches, Pagans, and Wiccans see Hecate as a Goddess of Witches, amongst other appropriate attributes, and continue her worship and reverence now several thousand years ongoing.

As is the case with most of Greek Mythology, Hecate has multiple origin myths and genealogies. This is most likely the result of her originating outside of the Greeks, and being adapted and merged with the existing pantheon. Most traditions have Hecate as the daughter of the Titans Perses, titan of destruction, and Asteria, titan of falling stars and nocturnal prophecy. Hecate was their only child, and was able to retain her powers post Zeus’ coup as she helped him fight the Giants. As child of Asteria, her grandmother was the Titan of the Moon, Phoebe, and her cousin was Olympian lunar all-star Artemis.

There are various stories in which Hecate plays a part. Her most notable and appropriate for this time of year, however, is her integral role in assisting Demeter’s search for her beloved daughter, Persephone. Upon Persephone’s decent into Hades, Hecate, through the light of her torches, helped Demeter discover her daughter in the underworld. As such, Hecate has become a chthonic Goddess, and Persephone’s yearly attendant and psychopomp to the underworld. Her position as gatekeeper and guide to Hades solidifies many of her numerous attributes.

Hecate is associated with ghosts, necromancy, and magic. She is identified with crossroads, torches, and dark hounds. She was a common household deity for the Athenian—her shrines placed in doorways and city gates to both protect from restless spirits and bestow blessings and safe passage. Her worship and cult was as extensive as her various attributes, with temples and shrines scattered across the Mediterranean. As a key figure in the Persephone saga, Hecate was integral in the ancient Eleusinian Mysteries, impacting secret societies and occult rituals to this day.

Out of all her characteristics, her association with the crossroads is perhaps the most pertinent to my series. Most often, we think of crossroads as the intersection of two roads, yielding four directions. This was not always the case, however, as it was more common to have a proverbial ‘fork in the road’, yielding three directions. This is the kind of crossroads in which Hecate resides. Her statues depict her in triplicity, forearms outstretched, holding torches, keys, serpents, daggers, etc. One face in each direction, Hecate is the arbiter of passages, and in this way is the consort of the God Hermes.

Hecate is one of the original Triple Goddesses of Witchcraft, if not the primordial one. Her triplicity has defined much of Modern Pagan theology, with her stance representing the three phases of the moon, Waxing, Full, and Waning (Maiden, Mother, Crone respectively). Her mythological genealogy as the granddaughter of Phoebe and cousin to Artemis has yielded Hecate as a Goddess of the Moon in her own right, most often known as the unseen phase of the moon, the New Moon (however she is just as often associated with all moon phases). In Greek/Roman Mythology, Hecate joins many lunar goddesses in addition to Phoebe and Artemis, including Selene and Diana. The five were often conflated, confused, and worshiped both in tandem and in conflict. This ever shifting, impossible to pin down, lunar association echos her transient nature of existing in the shadows.

Hecate is both mysterious and severe. Her face is hidden behind her torches, or on the dark side of the moon, however her presence is a constant. She is life, death, and rebirth. She is both light and dark magic. She was beloved in her association with rites of passage like childbirth, and feared in her role as Queen of Shades, present at the final rite of passage, death. Her nature has permeated my entire series in such a profound and indescribable way, I can only show you:

#93: Lilith— often worshiped by modern Pagans in tandem with Hecate #92: Circe: Daughter of Hecate #89, #54, #39: Bewitched: A common expression “For Hecate’s Sake!” Occurs throughout the show. #79: Aradia: Daughter of Lucifer and Diana. Often seen as the daughter of an amalgamated Diana-Hecate. #70: Medea: Priestess of Hecate #67: Charmed: The Halliwell Sisters: Appears in the episode “The Wedding from Hell” #56: Ceridwen: Often worshiped in tandem with Hecate as Dark Mothers by modern Pagans. . #52, #27: Practical Magic: The necromancy ritual the Owen’s Sisters perform, albeit pronounced incorrectly. “Black as night, erase death from our sight. White as light, Mighty Hecate make it right.” #10: Willow Rosenberg: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Mentioned in several episodes and referred to as “Queen and Protectress of Witches.” #7: American Horror Story: Coven: Supreme Fiona Goode invokes Hecate “Come to me Hecate, Mother of Angels, Cosmic World Soul.” #5: The Weird Sisters: Macbeth: Hecate is their master

This list is pretty fitting for a Goddess whose name etymologically may mean “she that operates from afar.” She is seldom a central figure or even visible, however witches from the Owens to the Goodes, from Willow Rosenberg to Endora, invoke her name and ask for her spirit, guidance, and presence. Hecate, in many ways, is both the first witch, and the last. She is our alpha and omega. She is the embodiment of power and strength. As a Goddess of Witchcraft, she does not merely exist in the margins of society like the rest of us—She is the margin itself.

Hail Hecate.

“Hecate, Cerridwen. Dark Mother take us in. Hecate, Cerridwen. Let us be reborn.”  

Many of these misconceptions can be very popular, but have no historical backing.

-She is a “crone goddess” This misconception probably comes from more recent literary representations of her. In Ancient Greek religion she was always portrayed as a young maiden.

-She is a “triple goddess” or the Triple Goddess The Triple Goddess is a purely modern creation/belief. This concept of deity was created in the mid 1900s along with Wicca. Since Hekate predates Wicca and neo-pagan movements by about 2,000 years, she couldn’t really be the Triple Goddess. She is not a Wiccan deity, so therefore, she would not be defined or characterized by a Wiccan concept of deity. While she is commonly portrayed as three women, that was only to depict her domain over the three way crossroads, unlike the Triple Goddess whose aspects each represent a different thing.

-Hekate is not a witch goddess This is so far from true. Even if this role isn’t one of her original roles, such as the ones described by Hesiod, this aspect did become quite prevalent later in the Hellenic world. The evidence of her role as a witch goddess is very commonly portrayed in Ancient Greek literature and mythos. Kirke and Medea, arguably two of the most popular witches ever, were both priestesses, or in some cases daughters, of Hekate. Whenever witches performed their magic such as necromancy, binding spells, curses, image magic, and other spells, they called on Hekate. This relationship between witches and Hekate is not only shown in Greek literature but in Roman literature as well such as the tale of the witch Erichtho is Lucan’s Pharsalia.

-Hekate is JUST a witch goddess Though her role as a witch goddess is probably the most popular in literature and with neo pagans and Wiccans, this is far from her only aspect. As described by Hesiod, she was a goddess of the heavens, the earth, and the sea, and a child protector. She was also known to be a goddess of the crossroads and the dead. She guards the gates to the underworld and holds dominions over the daemones (spirits) and ghosts. She also later became a goddess of the moon and is celebrated every dark moon at her Deipnon.

The Many Epithets of Hekate

An epithet is an honorary and praiseful descriptive title used as part of a name. For example, Alexander The Great. In polytheistic religions, specifically that of Greece and Rome, an epithet was not only a praiseful description, but also a focus on a specific aspect of that divinity and their powers that you are petitioning for purposes related to that aspect. The following is a list I compiled of Hekate’s many historical epithets. These epithets come from the Greek Magical Papyri, The Chaldean Oracles, Greek poetry, hymns & myths and ancient inscriptions. A few of the epithets have unknown meaning. Other epithets are unverified but speculated to belong to Hekate. Either way - the epithets are definitely fitting for Her and I don’t think She’d reject them.

You will find as you go through the list of epithets of this ancient and vast goddess that many of the epithets are contradictory to others. Being a goddess with such an ancient history with many evolutions and having domain over so many realms, it’s only natural that for example, the Greek Magical Papyri epithets which tend to be darker are going to vary greatly from that of the Chaldean Oracles which view Her as a universal power and axis mundi and anima mundi.

This list would not be possible without the work of Sara Neheti Croft, author and artist of Knowing Hekate: A Spiritual Coloring Experience, particularly her posts here. Also the work of Leonardo at Voces Magicae, particularly his post here. I’m extremely thankful for their research, work and devotion. They did most of the actual research and compilation, I’ve just merged them into a master-list for easy reference.

Abronoê ‘Gracious-minded’, ‘Providing Grace’, ‘Gracious’ Adamantaea ‘Unconquerable’, ‘Untamable Goddess’ Admêtos ‘Indomable’, ‘Unconquered’ Aenaos ‘Eternal’ Agallomenen Elaphoisi ‘Rejoicing in Deer’ Agia ‘Sacred’, ‘Holy’ Aglaos ‘Radiant’ Agriope ‘Wild-eyed’, ‘Fierce-faced’, ‘Savage-watcher’, ‘wild-voiced’ Agrotera ‘Huntress’ Aidônaia ‘Goddess of Hades’, ‘Of the Underworld” Aimopotis ‘Blood-drinker’, ‘Murderer’ Aiônos ‘Eternal’ Aizêiοs ‘Vigorous’ Aktinochiatis ‘Radiant haired’, ‘With Rays for Hair’ Aktiophis [Of Unknown Meaning] Alexeatis ‘Averter of Evil’ Alkimos ‘Powerful’, ‘Strong’, ‘Stout’, ‘Brave’ Amaimaketos ‘Unconquerable’, ‘Raging’, ‘Invincible’, ‘Unapproachable’, ‘Uncontrollable’ Ambrotos ‘Immortal’ Ameibousa ‘One That Transforms’ Amphiphaes ‘Circumlucent’ Amphiprosopos ‘Double-faced’ Amphistomos ‘Double-mouthed’ Anassa ‘Queen’ Anassa Eneroi ‘Queen of the Dead’ Androphonos ‘Killer of Men’ Angelos ‘Messenger’ Antaian Theou ‘She Who Meets’ Antania ‘Enemy of Mankind’ Aôroboros ‘Devourer of the Prematurely Dead’, ‘Devourer of the Untimely Dead’ Apanchomene ‘The Hanged One’ Apotropaios ‘Averting’, ‘Averter’ Aphrattos ‘Unnamed One’ Arêgos ‘Helper’ Archikos ‘Royal’ Ariste ‘The Best’ Ariste Cthonia ‘Best of the World’, ‘Best in the World’ Arkuia / Arkyia ‘Spinner of webs’, ‘Entrapper’ Arrhetos ‘Ineffable’ Astrodia ‘Star-walker’, ‘Star-Courser’ Atala ‘Tender’, ‘Delicate’ Atasthalos ‘Pretentious’, ‘Reckless’, ‘Presumptious’ Athanatos ‘Immortal’, ‘Of Immortal Fame’ Autophyês / Autopheus ‘Self-generating’. ‘Self-begotten’ Azonos ‘Without Borders’ Azostos ‘Ungirt’, ‘Without a Belt’ Baridouchos ‘Barque-holder’, ‘Skiff-holder’ Basileia ‘Queen’, ‘Princess’ Bolos ‘Far-Thrower’, Boôpis ‘Cow-eyed’ Booporos ‘Ox-Herder’ Borborophorba ‘Eater of Filth’ Boukolos ‘Ox-Herder’ Brimô ‘Angry-One’, ‘Terrifying’ Buthios ‘Abysmal’, ‘Of the Depths’ Charopos ‘Ferocious-aspected’, ‘Fierce’, ‘Grim’, ‘Flashing’, ‘Bright, ‘Having blue-grey eyes’, ‘of the Sea’ Chthonia ‘Chthonic’, ‘Of the Earth” Chrysôpis ‘Golden-faced’ Chrysosandalos ‘of Golden Sandals’ Chrysosandalaimopotichthonia ‘Goddess of the Lower World Wearing Golden Sandals and Drinking Blood’ Chrysostephanos ‘Golden-Crowned’, ‘Crowned with Splendor’ Chrysostephês ‘Golden-crowned’ Dadophoros ‘Torchbearer’ Dadouchos ‘Torch-bearer’ Daeira ‘The Knowing One’ Daidalos ‘Cunning’ Damasandra ‘Dominator of Men’, ‘Subduer of Men’ Damnamene ‘Means of Constraint’ Damnodamia ‘Subduer of Subduers’ Damnomeneia ‘Dominating Force’ Dasplêtis ‘Horror’, ‘Frightful-one’ Deichteira ‘Teacher’, ‘Revealer’ Deinos ‘Terrible’ Despoina ‘Lady’, ‘Mistress’ Dione ‘Goddess’ Doloessa / Doloeis ‘Astute-one’, ‘Subtle’, ‘Wily’, ‘Cunning’ Drakaina ‘Serpent’, ‘Dragon’ Eidôlios ‘Phantasmal’, ‘Ghostly’ Eileithyia ‘Nurse of Childbirth’, ‘Goddess of Midwives’ Einalian ‘Of the Sea’ Einodia Thygater Demetros ‘Daughter of Demeter, who is of the Road’ Ekklesia ‘Of the Assembly’ Ekdotis ‘Bestower’ Elaphêbolos ‘Deer-huntress’, ‘Shooter of Deer’ Elateira ‘Driver’, ‘Charioteer’ Ellophonos ‘Fawn-slayer’ Epaine ‘Awe-Inspiring’, ‘Glorious’, ‘Sublime’ Empousa / Empusa [Of unknown meaning, related to the monster Empusa and the idea of phantoms and specters] Empylios ‘At the Gate’ Empyrios ‘Empyrean’ Enodia ‘Of the crossroads’, ‘Of the Roads’, ‘Of the Path’ Ephodia ‘Traveling Expenses’, ‘Provisions for the Road’, ‘Traveling Supplies’, ‘Resources’ Ephoros ‘Guardian’ ‘Overseer’ Epigeioi ‘of the Earth’ Epiphanestate Thea ‘the Most Manifest Goddess’ Epipurgidia ‘on the Tower’ Episkopos ‘Guardian’, ‘One who Watches Over’, ‘Overseer’ Epiteichea ‘The Stronghold’, ‘Fort’ Epi-tymbidia ‘Sepulchral’ Eranne ‘Lovely’ Erannos ‘Lovely’ Ergatis ‘Energizer’ Êrigeneia ‘Daughter of morning’, ‘Early-born’ Erôtotokeia / Erototokos ‘Bearer of love’, ‘Producing Love’, ‘Who Bore Love’ Eukoline ‘Good Tempered’ Eupatepeia ‘Noble-born’ Eurippa ‘Horse-finder’ Geneteira ‘Mother’ Genetyllis ‘Birth-Helper’, ‘Goddess of Childbirth’, ‘Midwife’ Gigaessa ‘Giant’ Gorgo ‘The Grim’, ‘The Gorgon’ Hecatoncheires ‘Hundred-handed’ Hegemonen ‘Guide’ Hêgemoye ‘Queen’ Helike ‘Revolving’ Hersechthonia ‘Speaking From Below’ Hexacheira ‘Of Six Ways’, ‘Of Six Hands’ Hiera ‘Holy One’ Hieros Pyr ‘Holy Fire’ Hipparete ‘Horse-Speaker’ Hippokyon ‘Mare Bitch’, ‘Horse Dog’ Hippoprosopos ‘Horse-Faced’ Hypolampteira [Of Unknown Meaning - possibly related to light or brightness] Iocheaira / Iokheaira ‘Arrow-shooter’, ‘One who Shoots Arrows’ Indalimos ‘Beautiful’ Ippokyôn ‘Mare-Dog’, half dog/ half horse Ippoprosôpos ‘Horse-faced’ Kalkaea ‘Wearer of High Boots’ Kalligeneia ‘Bearing Beautiful Offspring’ Kalliste ‘Fairest’ Kapetoktypos ‘Tomb-disturber’, ‘Causing the Noise of Lamentation’ Kardiodaitos ‘Heart-Eater’, ‘Feasting on Men’s Hearts’ Kareia ‘of Karia’, ‘Kraus’ Karko ‘Lamia’, ‘Child-Eating’, ‘Nocturnal Spirit’ Katachthonia ‘Subterranean’ Katakampsypsaychenos ‘Bender of proud necks’ Kelkaia [Of Unknown Meaning] Keratôpis ‘Horned-faced’, ‘Horned Looking’ Keroeis ‘Horned’ Kthonia ‘Of the Underworld’, ’Of the Earth’ Kleidouchos / Kleidoukhos ‘Key-holder’, ‘Key-keeper’ Klôthaiê ‘Spinner of fate’ Kore ‘Maiden’ Kourotrophos ‘Child’s Nurse’, ‘Nurse of Youths’ Krataios / Kratais ‘Powerful’, ‘Dominator’, ‘Of the Rocks’ Krokopeplos ‘Saffron-Cloaked’ Kunolygmatos ‘Doglike Howler’, ‘Who howls doglike’ Kydimos ‘Glorious’ Kynegetis ‘Leader of Dogs’ Kynokephalos ‘Dog-Headed’ Kynolygmate ‘Howling Like a Dog’, ‘Who Howls Dog-like’ Kyôn ‘Bitch’, ‘Dog’ Kyôn Melaina ‘Black Bitch’, ‘Black Dog’ Kyria ‘The Powerful’, ‘The Supreme’ Laginitis ‘Of Lagina’ Lampadephoros ‘Lamp-bearer’, ‘Torch-bearer’, ‘Who Warns of Nighttime Attack’ Lampadios ‘Lamp-bearer’, ‘Torch-bearer’ Leaina ‘The Lioness’ Leontoukhos ‘Holding a Lion’ Leukophryne ‘White-Browed’, ‘Of the White-Browed Hill’ Limenitis ‘Harbor Goddess’ Limenitikos ‘Of the Harbor’, ‘Harbor Goddess’ Limenoskopos ‘Of the Threshold’, ‘Watcher of Havens’, ‘On the Harbor’, ‘Watching the Harbor’ Liparokredemnos ‘Of the Bright Headband’, ‘Bright-Coiffed’ Liparoplokamos ‘Brilliant-Braided’ Lochias ‘Protector of birth’, ‘Goddess of Childbearing’ Lykaina ‘She-wolf’ Lyko ‘She-wolf’, ‘Wolf-formed’ Maera ‘Shining’ Mageus ‘One who Kneads’ [Possibly related to Magi] Makairapos ‘Blessed-one’ Medeousa / Medusa ‘Protector’, ‘Guard’, ‘Gorgon’ Meisopomenos ‘Laborer of the Moon’ Meisoponeros ‘Vice-Hating’ Megiste ‘Greatest’ Melaine ‘Black’ Melaneimôn ‘Black-clad’, ‘Wearing Black’ Melinoe ‘Soothing One’ Mene ‘Moon’ Moira ‘A Share’, ‘Fate’ Monogenes ‘Only Child’ Monoprosopos ‘With One Face’ Mormo ‘She-Monster’ Munychia [Of Unknown Meaning] Nekuia / Nekyia ‘Goddess of death’, ‘Mistress of corpses’ Nerteria ‘Infernal’, ‘Subterranean’, ‘Nether One’ Nerterios ‘Infernal’, ‘Subterranean’, Nether One’ Nerteron Prytanin ‘Mistress of the Dead’ Noctiluca ‘Light of the Night’, ‘Night Shiner’ Noeros ‘Intellective’ Nomaios ‘Pastoral’ Nychia / Nykhia ‘Nocturnal’ ‘Nocturnal-One’ “Goddess of Night’ Nyktairodyteira ‘Night Riser and Setter’, ‘She that Rises and Sets by Night’ Nykteria ‘Of the Night’ Nykti ‘Of the Night’ Nyktiboos ‘Night-Shouter’, ‘Night-Crier’ Nyktipolos ‘Night-Wandering’ Nyktophaneia ‘Night-shining’ Nymphen ‘Bride’ Nyssa ‘Goader’, “Goal’, ‘Beginning’, ‘Turning Post’, ‘Ambition’ Oistrophaneia ‘Manifester of Madness’ Oistroplaneia ‘Spreader of Madness’, ‘Causing the Wanderings of Madness’ Oksyboê ‘Shrill-screamer’, ‘Shrieker’ Oletis ‘Destroyer’ Opaon ‘Follower’ Opheôplokamos ‘Coiled with Snakes’, ‘With Snaky Curls’ Oriplanos ‘Mountain-roamer’, ‘Mountain-Wandering’ Oroboros ‘Tail-Eating’ Ourania ‘Celestial’, ‘Heavenly’ Ouresiphoites ‘Wanderer in the Mountains’ Oxythymia ‘Gallows’, ‘Quick to Anger’ Paggennêteira ‘Mother of All’ Paiônios ‘Healer’ Pammêtôr ‘Mother of All’ Pandamateira ‘All-tamer’, ‘All-powerful’, “All Subduer’, ‘Master of all’ Pandina [Of Unknown Meaning - Possibly related to ‘whirling’ or ‘rotating’] Pandôteira ‘All-giver’, ‘One who gives everything’, ‘Bestower of Everything’, Bounteous’ Pangaios ‘World-wide’ Panopaia ‘All-seeing’, ‘One who sees everything’, ‘Panorama’ Panta Ephepousa [Of Unknown Meaning] Pantos Kosmou Kleidokhos ‘Keeper of the Keys of the Cosmos’ Pantrephô / Pantrophos ‘All-nurturing’, ‘All-sustaining’, ‘who feeds all’ Parthenos ‘Virgin’ Pasikrateia ‘Universal Queen’, ‘All-powerful’, ‘who dominates all’ Pasimedeonsa ‘All-guarding’, ‘All-protecting’ Pasimedousa ‘Ruling Over All’ Pasiphaessa ‘Wide-Shining’ Patrogenes ‘Father-Begotten’ Pege ‘Source’ Pege Psychon ‘Source of Souls’ Persia ‘Persian’ ‘Daughter of Perses’ Phaennô ‘Brilliant’ Phaesimbrotos ‘Bringer of light to mortals’ Phaethô ‘Radiant’ Pharaea ‘Of Pharaea’, ‘Daughter of Zeus and Pheraea’ Philêremos ‘Lover of Solitude’ Philoskylax ‘Lover of Dogs’ Phoberos ‘Terrible’, ‘Fearful’ Phoebe ‘Bright’ Phoinikopeza ‘Ruddy-footed’ Phôs ‘Holy light’ Phôsphoros ‘Light-bringer’ Phôtoplêx ‘Who smites with light’, ‘Who strikes with light’ Phroune ‘Toad’, ‘Frog’, ‘She-Toad’ Phthorênês ‘Ruin-Bringer’, ‘Corruptor’ Phylakê ‘Protector’, ‘Guardian’, ‘Who Keeps Watch and Ward’ Physis ‘Nature’ (personified) Podarkê ‘Quick-footed’, ‘Fleet-footed’ Polyboteira ‘Generous Giver of Nourishment’ Polykleitos ‘Famed’, ‘Much Renowned’, ‘Far-Famed’ Polyplokamos ‘Of Many Tentacles’, ‘With Many Feelers’ Polymorphos ‘Many-formed’, ‘Of many forms’ Polyôdynos ‘Full of Pain’, ‘One who suffers much’ Polyônymos ‘Many-named’, ‘Of many names’ Potnia Theron ‘Mistress of Animals’, ‘Lady of Wild Beasts’ Presbeira ‘Ancient’, ‘Elder’ Prodomos ‘Of the Vestibule’, ‘Before the House’ Prothegetis ‘Leader’ Prokathegetis ‘She who goes down before’, ‘Leader’, ‘Teacher’, ‘Guide’ Promêthikos ‘With forethought’ Propolos ‘She Who Leads’, ‘Guide’, ‘Companion’, ‘Servant’ Propylaia ‘One Before the Gate’ Prothyraea ‘Before the Gate’ Prostistos ‘Primordial’, ‘The Very First’ Psychopompe ‘Soul-Guide’ Pyriboulos ‘Of fiery counsel’ Pyridrakontozônos ‘Girt with flaming serpents’ Pyriphoitos ‘Fire-walker’ Pyripnos / Pyripnoa ‘Fire-breather’, ‘Breathing Fire’ Pyrophoros ‘Fire-bearer’, ‘Torch-bearer’ Pyrtania ‘Invincible Queen of the Dead’, [Possibly related to ‘Council Chamber’] Rêksipylê ‘Door-breaker’, ‘Gate-breaker’ Reskichthon / Rexichthon ‘Bursting forth from the Earth’, ‘Earth-Cleaver’ Rhododaktylos ‘Rosy-Fingered’ Rixipyle / Rexipyle ‘She Who Throws Down The Gates’ Sarkophagos ‘Flesh-Eater’ Skotia / Skotios ‘Somber’, ‘Of the Dark’, ‘Of the Gloom’ Skylakageia ‘Dog-leader’ Sôteira ‘Savior’ Speirodrakontozonos ‘Girt with Serpent Coils’ Stratêlatis ‘Leader of hosts’, ‘General’ Strophaia ‘Standing as a porter at the door hinge’ Taurodrakaina ‘Bull-Dragon’, ‘half bull/ half serpent’ Taurokarênos ‘Bull-headed’ Tauromorphos ‘Bull-formed’ Taurôpis ‘Bull-faced’ Tauropolos ‘Bull-Herder’ Taurôpos ‘Bull-aspected’ Tartarouchos / Tartaroukhos ‘Ruler of Tartarus’, ‘Controller of Tartarus’ Tergeminus ‘Of Triple-Birth’ Terpsimbrotos ‘Delighting men’, ‘One who delights mortals’, ‘Gladdens the hearts of men’ Tetrakephalos ‘Four Headed’ Tetraoditis ‘Of the Four ways’, ‘Of Four roads’, ‘Haunting Crossroads’, ‘Four-Road’s Mistress’ Tetraônymos ‘Four-named’ Tetraprosôpos ‘Four-faced’, ‘Four-Headed’ Tetraprosôpinos ‘Four-faced’ Thanatêgos ‘Death-Bringer’ Thea Deinos ‘The Dread Goddess’ Therobromon ‘Roaring like a Wild Beast’, ‘Of the City of the Beast’ Thêroktomos ‘Beast-slayer’ Thrinakia ‘Triple-pointed’, ‘Of three extremes’, ‘Triple’ Tlêtê / Tletos ‘Patient’ Triauchenos ‘Triple-necked’, ‘With Three Necks’ Triceps ‘Three-Formed’ Trikaphalos ‘Three-headed’ Trikaranos ‘Three-headed’,’Three-faced’, ‘Triple-headed’ Triktypos ‘Triple-sounding’ Trimorphos ‘Three-Formed’ Trioditis ‘Of the Three ways’, ‘Of the three roads’ Triônymos ‘Triple-named’ Triphthoggos ‘Triple-voiced’, ‘Having Three Voices’ Triprosôpos ‘Triple-faced’ Triva ‘Of the Three Ways’, ‘Goddess of Three Roads’ Tymbidian ‘Sepulchral’ Tymborychos ‘Gravedigger’, ‘Grave-Robber’ Zatheiê ‘Divine’ Zatheos ‘Divine’ Zerynthia ‘Of Mount Zerynthia’ Zônodrakontis / Zonodrakontos ‘Encircled by Serpents’, ‘Covered in Snakes’, ‘Intertwined with Snakes’ Zootrophos ‘Nourisher of Life’

The Many Epithets of Hekate

An epithet is an honorary and praiseful descriptive title used as part of a name. For example, Alexander The Great. In polytheistic religions, specifically that of Greece and Rome, an epithet was not only a praiseful description, but also a focus on a specific aspect of that divinity and their powers that you are petitioning for purposes related to that aspect. The following is a list I compiled of Hekate’s many historical epithets. These epithets come from the Greek Magical Papyri, The Chaldean Oracles, Greek poetry, hymns & myths and ancient inscriptions. A few of the epithets have unknown meaning. Other epithets are unverified but speculated to belong to Hekate. Either way - the epithets are definitely fitting for Her and I don’t think She’d reject them.

You will find as you go through the list of epithets of this ancient and vast goddess that many of the epithets are contradictory to others. Being a goddess with such an ancient history with many evolutions and having domain over so many realms, it’s only natural that for example, the Greek Magical Papyri epithets which tend to be darker are going to vary greatly from that of the Chaldean Oracles which view Her as a universal power and axis mundi and anima mundi.

This list would not be possible without the work of Sara Neheti Croft, author and artist of Knowing Hekate: A Spiritual Coloring Experience, particularly her posts here. Also the work of Leonardo at Voces Magicae, particularly his post here. I’m extremely thankful for their research, work and devotion. They did most of the actual research and compilation, I’ve just merged them into a master-list for easy reference.

Abronoê ‘Gracious-minded’, ‘Providing Grace’, ‘Gracious’ Adamantaea ‘Unconquerable’, ‘Untamable Goddess’ Admêtos ‘Indomable’, ‘Unconquered’ Aenaos ‘Eternal’ Agallomenen Elaphoisi ‘Rejoicing in Deer’ Agia ‘Sacred’, ‘Holy’ Aglaos ‘Radiant’ Agriope ‘Wild-eyed’, ‘Fierce-faced’, ‘Savage-watcher’, ‘wild-voiced’ Agrotera ‘Huntress’ Aidônaia ‘Goddess of Hades’, ‘Of the Underworld” Aimopotis ‘Blood-drinker’, ‘Murderer’ Aiônos ‘Eternal’ Aizêiοs ‘Vigorous’ Aktinochiatis ‘Radiant haired’, ‘With Rays for Hair’ Aktiophis [Of Unknown Meaning] Alexeatis ‘Averter of Evil’ Alkimos ‘Powerful’, ‘Strong’, ‘Stout’, ‘Brave’ Amaimaketos ‘Unconquerable’, ‘Raging’, ‘Invincible’, ‘Unapproachable’, ‘Uncontrollable’ Ambrotos ‘Immortal’ Ameibousa ‘One That Transforms’ Amphiphaes ‘Circumlucent’ Amphiprosopos ‘Double-faced’ Amphistomos ‘Double-mouthed’ Anassa ‘Queen’ Anassa Eneroi ‘Queen of the Dead’ Androphonos ‘Killer of Men’ Angelos ‘Messenger’ Antaian Theou ‘She Who Meets’ Antania ‘Enemy of Mankind’ Aôroboros ‘Devourer of the Prematurely Dead’, ‘Devourer of the Untimely Dead’ Apanchomene ‘The Hanged One’ Apotropaios ‘Averting’, ‘Averter’ Aphrattos ‘Unnamed One’ Arêgos ‘Helper’ Archikos ‘Royal’ Ariste ‘The Best’ Ariste Cthonia ‘Best of the World’, ‘Best in the World’ Arkuia / Arkyia ‘Spinner of webs’, ‘Entrapper’ Arrhetos ‘Ineffable’ Astrodia ‘Star-walker’, ‘Star-Courser’ Atala ‘Tender’, ‘Delicate’ Atasthalos ‘Pretentious’, ‘Reckless’, ‘Presumptious’ Athanatos ‘Immortal’, ‘Of Immortal Fame’ Autophyês / Autopheus ‘Self-generating’. ‘Self-begotten’ Azonos ‘Without Borders’ Azostos ‘Ungirt’, ‘Without a Belt’ Baridouchos ‘Barque-holder’, ‘Skiff-holder’ Basileia ‘Queen’, ‘Princess’ Bolos ‘Far-Thrower’, Boôpis ‘Cow-eyed’ Booporos ‘Ox-Herder’ Borborophorba ‘Eater of Filth’ Boukolos ‘Ox-Herder’ Brimô ‘Angry-One’, ‘Terrifying’ Buthios ‘Abysmal’, ‘Of the Depths’ Charopos ‘Ferocious-aspected’, ‘Fierce’, ‘Grim’, ‘Flashing’, ‘Bright, ‘Having blue-grey eyes’, ‘of the Sea’ Chthonia ‘Chthonic’, ‘Of the Earth” Chrysôpis ‘Golden-faced’ Chrysosandalos ‘of Golden Sandals’ Chrysosandalaimopotichthonia ‘Goddess of the Lower World Wearing Golden Sandals and Drinking Blood’ Chrysostephanos ‘Golden-Crowned’, ‘Crowned with Splendor’ Chrysostephês ‘Golden-crowned’ Dadophoros ‘Torchbearer’ Dadouchos ‘Torch-bearer’ Daeira ‘The Knowing One’ Daidalos ‘Cunning’ Damasandra ‘Dominator of Men’, ‘Subduer of Men’ Damnamene ‘Means of Constraint’ Damnodamia ‘Subduer of Subduers’ Damnomeneia ‘Dominating Force’ Dasplêtis ‘Horror’, ‘Frightful-one’ Deichteira ‘Teacher’, ‘Revealer’ Deinos ‘Terrible’ Despoina ‘Lady’, ‘Mistress’ Dione ‘Goddess’ Doloessa / Doloeis ‘Astute-one’, ‘Subtle’, ‘Wily’, ‘Cunning’ Drakaina ‘Serpent’, ‘Dragon’ Eidôlios ‘Phantasmal’, ‘Ghostly’ Eileithyia ‘Nurse of Childbirth’, ‘Goddess of Midwives’ Einalian ‘Of the Sea’ Einodia Thygater Demetros ‘Daughter of Demeter, who is of the Road’ Ekklesia ‘Of the Assembly’ Ekdotis ‘Bestower’ Elaphêbolos ‘Deer-huntress’, ‘Shooter of Deer’ Elateira ‘Driver’, ‘Charioteer’ Ellophonos ‘Fawn-slayer’ Epaine ‘Awe-Inspiring’, ‘Glorious’, ‘Sublime’ Empousa / Empusa [Of unknown meaning, related to the monster Empusa and the idea of phantoms and specters] Empylios ‘At the Gate’ Empyrios ‘Empyrean’ Enodia ‘Of the crossroads’, ‘Of the Roads’, ‘Of the Path’ Ephodia ‘Traveling Expenses’, ‘Provisions for the Road’, ‘Traveling Supplies’, ‘Resources’ Ephoros ‘Guardian’ ‘Overseer’ Epigeioi ‘of the Earth’ Epiphanestate Thea ‘the Most Manifest Goddess’ Epipurgidia ‘on the Tower’ Episkopos ‘Guardian’, ‘One who Watches Over’, ‘Overseer’ Epiteichea ‘The Stronghold’, ‘Fort’ Epi-tymbidia ‘Sepulchral’ Eranne ‘Lovely’ Erannos ‘Lovely’ Ergatis ‘Energizer’ Êrigeneia ‘Daughter of morning’, ‘Early-born’ Erôtotokeia / Erototokos ‘Bearer of love’, ‘Producing Love’, ‘Who Bore Love’ Eukoline ‘Good Tempered’ Eupatepeia ‘Noble-born’ Eurippa ‘Horse-finder’ Geneteira ‘Mother’ Genetyllis ‘Birth-Helper’, ‘Goddess of Childbirth’, ‘Midwife’ Gigaessa ‘Giant’ Gorgo ‘The Grim’, ‘The Gorgon’ Hecatoncheires ‘Hundred-handed’ Hegemonen ‘Guide’ Hêgemoye ‘Queen’ Helike ‘Revolving’ Hersechthonia ‘Speaking From Below’ Hexacheira ‘Of Six Ways’, ‘Of Six Hands’ Hiera ‘Holy One’ Hieros Pyr ‘Holy Fire’ Hipparete ‘Horse-Speaker’ Hippokyon ‘Mare Bitch’, ‘Horse Dog’ Hippoprosopos ‘Horse-Faced’ Hypolampteira [Of Unknown Meaning - possibly related to light or brightness] Iocheaira / Iokheaira ‘Arrow-shooter’, ‘One who Shoots Arrows’ Indalimos ‘Beautiful’ Ippokyôn ‘Mare-Dog’, half dog/ half horse Ippoprosôpos ‘Horse-faced’ Kalkaea ‘Wearer of High Boots’ Kalligeneia ‘Bearing Beautiful Offspring’ Kalliste ‘Fairest’ Kapetoktypos ‘Tomb-disturber’, ‘Causing the Noise of Lamentation’ Kardiodaitos ‘Heart-Eater’, ‘Feasting on Men’s Hearts’ Kareia ‘of Karia’, ‘Kraus’ Karko ‘Lamia’, ‘Child-Eating’, ‘Nocturnal Spirit’ Katachthonia ‘Subterranean’ Katakampsypsaychenos ‘Bender of proud necks’ Kelkaia [Of Unknown Meaning] Keratôpis ‘Horned-faced’, ‘Horned Looking’ Keroeis ‘Horned’ Kthonia ‘Of the Underworld’, ’Of the Earth’ Kleidouchos / Kleidoukhos ‘Key-holder’, ‘Key-keeper’ Klôthaiê ‘Spinner of fate’ Kore ‘Maiden’ Kourotrophos ‘Child’s Nurse’, ‘Nurse of Youths’ Krataios / Kratais ‘Powerful’, ‘Dominator’, ‘Of the Rocks’ Krokopeplos ‘Saffron-Cloaked’ Kunolygmatos ‘Doglike Howler’, ‘Who howls doglike’ Kydimos ‘Glorious’ Kynegetis ‘Leader of Dogs’ Kynokephalos ‘Dog-Headed’ Kynolygmate ‘Howling Like a Dog’, ‘Who Howls Dog-like’ Kyôn ‘Bitch’, ‘Dog’ Kyôn Melaina ‘Black Bitch’, ‘Black Dog’ Kyria ‘The Powerful’, ‘The Supreme’ Laginitis ‘Of Lagina’ Lampadephoros ‘Lamp-bearer’, ‘Torch-bearer’, ‘Who Warns of Nighttime Attack’ Lampadios ‘Lamp-bearer’, ‘Torch-bearer’ Leaina ‘The Lioness’ Leontoukhos ‘Holding a Lion’ Leukophryne ‘White-Browed’, ‘Of the White-Browed Hill’ Limenitis ‘Harbor Goddess’ Limenitikos ‘Of the Harbor’, ‘Harbor Goddess’ Limenoskopos ‘Of the Threshold’, ‘Watcher of Havens’, ‘On the Harbor’, ‘Watching the Harbor’ Liparokredemnos ‘Of the Bright Headband’, ‘Bright-Coiffed’ Liparoplokamos ‘Brilliant-Braided’ Lochias ‘Protector of birth’, ‘Goddess of Childbearing’ Lykaina ‘She-wolf’ Lyko ‘She-wolf’, ‘Wolf-formed’ Maera ‘Shining’ Mageus ‘One who Kneads’ [Possibly related to Magi] Makairapos ‘Blessed-one’ Medeousa / Medusa ‘Protector’, ‘Guard’, ‘Gorgon’ Meisopomenos ‘Laborer of the Moon’ Meisoponeros ‘Vice-Hating’ Megiste ‘Greatest’ Melaine ‘Black’ Melaneimôn ‘Black-clad’, ‘Wearing Black’ Melinoe ‘Soothing One’ Mene ‘Moon’ Moira ‘A Share’, ‘Fate’ Monogenes ‘Only Child’ Monoprosopos ‘With One Face’ Mormo ‘She-Monster’ Munychia [Of Unknown Meaning] Nekuia / Nekyia ‘Goddess of death’, ‘Mistress of corpses’ Nerteria ‘Infernal’, ‘Subterranean’, ‘Nether One’ Nerterios ‘Infernal’, ‘Subterranean’, Nether One’ Nerteron Prytanin ‘Mistress of the Dead’ Noctiluca ‘Light of the Night’, ‘Night Shiner’ Noeros ‘Intellective’ Nomaios ‘Pastoral’ Nychia / Nykhia ‘Nocturnal’ ‘Nocturnal-One’ “Goddess of Night’ Nyktairodyteira ‘Night Riser and Setter’, ‘She that Rises and Sets by Night’ Nykteria ‘Of the Night’ Nykti ‘Of the Night’ Nyktiboos ‘Night-Shouter’, ‘Night-Crier’ Nyktipolos ‘Night-Wandering’ Nyktophaneia ‘Night-shining’ Nymphen ‘Bride’ Nyssa ‘Goader’, “Goal’, ‘Beginning’, ‘Turning Post’, ‘Ambition’ Oistrophaneia ‘Manifester of Madness’ Oistroplaneia ‘Spreader of Madness’, ‘Causing the Wanderings of Madness’ Oksyboê ‘Shrill-screamer’, ‘Shrieker’ Oletis ‘Destroyer’ Opaon ‘Follower’ Opheôplokamos ‘Coiled with Snakes’, ‘With Snaky Curls’ Oriplanos ‘Mountain-roamer’, ‘Mountain-Wandering’ Oroboros ‘Tail-Eating’ Ourania ‘Celestial’, ‘Heavenly’ Ouresiphoites ‘Wanderer in the Mountains’ Oxythymia ‘Gallows’, ‘Quick to Anger’ Paggennêteira ‘Mother of All’ Paiônios ‘Healer’ Pammêtôr ‘Mother of All’ Pandamateira ‘All-tamer’, ‘All-powerful’, “All Subduer’, ‘Master of all’ Pandina [Of Unknown Meaning - Possibly related to ‘whirling’ or ‘rotating’] Pandôteira ‘All-giver’, ‘One who gives everything’, ‘Bestower of Everything’, Bounteous’ Pangaios ‘World-wide’ Panopaia ‘All-seeing’, ‘One who sees everything’, ‘Panorama’ Panta Ephepousa [Of Unknown Meaning] Pantos Kosmou Kleidokhos ‘Keeper of the Keys of the Cosmos’ Pantrephô / Pantrophos ‘All-nurturing’, ‘All-sustaining’, ‘who feeds all’ Parthenos ‘Virgin’ Pasikrateia ‘Universal Queen’, ‘All-powerful’, ‘who dominates all’ Pasimedeonsa ‘All-guarding’, ‘All-protecting’ Pasimedousa ‘Ruling Over All’ Pasiphaessa ‘Wide-Shining’ Patrogenes ‘Father-Begotten’ Pege ‘Source’ Pege Psychon ‘Source of Souls’ Persia ‘Persian’ ‘Daughter of Perses’ Phaennô ‘Brilliant’ Phaesimbrotos ‘Bringer of light to mortals’ Phaethô ‘Radiant’ Pharaea ‘Of Pharaea’, ‘Daughter of Zeus and Pheraea’ Philêremos ‘Lover of Solitude’ Philoskylax ‘Lover of Dogs’ Phoberos ‘Terrible’, ‘Fearful’ Phoebe ‘Bright’ Phoinikopeza ‘Ruddy-footed’ Phôs ‘Holy light’ Phôsphoros ‘Light-bringer’ Phôtoplêx ‘Who smites with light’, ‘Who strikes with light’ Phroune ‘Toad’, ‘Frog’, ‘She-Toad’ Phthorênês ‘Ruin-Bringer’, ‘Corruptor’ Phylakê ‘Protector’, ‘Guardian’, ‘Who Keeps Watch and Ward’ Physis ‘Nature’ (personified) Podarkê ‘Quick-footed’, ‘Fleet-footed’ Polyboteira ‘Generous Giver of Nourishment’ Polykleitos ‘Famed’, ‘Much Renowned’, ‘Far-Famed’ Polyplokamos ‘Of Many Tentacles’, ‘With Many Feelers’ Polymorphos ‘Many-formed’, ‘Of many forms’ Polyôdynos ‘Full of Pain’, ‘One who suffers much’ Polyônymos ‘Many-named’, ‘Of many names’ Potnia Theron ‘Mistress of Animals’, ‘Lady of Wild Beasts’ Presbeira ‘Ancient’, ‘Elder’ Prodomos ‘Of the Vestibule’, ‘Before the House’ Prothegetis ‘Leader’ Prokathegetis ‘She who goes down before’, ‘Leader’, ‘Teacher’, ‘Guide’ Promêthikos ‘With forethought’ Propolos ‘She Who Leads’, ‘Guide’, ‘Companion’, ‘Servant’ Propylaia ‘One Before the Gate’ Prothyraea ‘Before the Gate’ Prostistos ‘Primordial’, ‘The Very First’ Psychopompe ‘Soul-Guide’ Pyriboulos ‘Of fiery counsel’ Pyridrakontozônos ‘Girt with flaming serpents’ Pyriphoitos ‘Fire-walker’ Pyripnos / Pyripnoa ‘Fire-breather’, ‘Breathing Fire’ Pyrophoros ‘Fire-bearer’, ‘Torch-bearer’ Pyrtania ‘Invincible Queen of the Dead’, [Possibly related to ‘Council Chamber’] Rêksipylê ‘Door-breaker’, ‘Gate-breaker’ Reskichthon / Rexichthon ‘Bursting forth from the Earth’, ‘Earth-Cleaver’ Rhododaktylos ‘Rosy-Fingered’ Rixipyle / Rexipyle ‘She Who Throws Down The Gates’ Sarkophagos ‘Flesh-Eater’ Skotia / Skotios ‘Somber’, ‘Of the Dark’, ‘Of the Gloom’ Skylakageia ‘Dog-leader’ Sôteira ‘Savior’ Speirodrakontozonos ‘Girt with Serpent Coils’ Stratêlatis ‘Leader of hosts’, ‘General’ Strophaia ‘Standing as a porter at the door hinge’ Taurodrakaina ‘Bull-Dragon’, ‘half bull/ half serpent’ Taurokarênos ‘Bull-headed’ Tauromorphos ‘Bull-formed’ Taurôpis ‘Bull-faced’ Tauropolos ‘Bull-Herder’ Taurôpos ‘Bull-aspected’ Tartarouchos / Tartaroukhos ‘Ruler of Tartarus’, ‘Controller of Tartarus’ Tergeminus ‘Of Triple-Birth’ Terpsimbrotos ‘Delighting men’, ‘One who delights mortals’, ‘Gladdens the hearts of men’ Tetrakephalos ‘Four Headed’ Tetraoditis ‘Of the Four ways’, ‘Of Four roads’, ‘Haunting Crossroads’, ‘Four-Road’s Mistress’ Tetraônymos ‘Four-named’ Tetraprosôpos ‘Four-faced’, ‘Four-Headed’ Tetraprosôpinos ‘Four-faced’ Thanatêgos ‘Death-Bringer’ Thea Deinos ‘The Dread Goddess’ Therobromon ‘Roaring like a Wild Beast’, ‘Of the City of the Beast’ Thêroktomos ‘Beast-slayer’ Thrinakia ‘Triple-pointed’, ‘Of three extremes’, ‘Triple’ Tlêtê / Tletos ‘Patient’ Triauchenos ‘Triple-necked’, ‘With Three Necks’ Triceps ‘Three-Formed’ Trikaphalos ‘Three-headed’ Trikaranos ‘Three-headed’,’Three-faced’, ‘Triple-headed’ Triktypos ‘Triple-sounding’ Trimorphos ‘Three-Formed’ Trioditis ‘Of the Three ways’, ‘Of the three roads’ Triônymos ‘Triple-named’ Triphthoggos ‘Triple-voiced’, ‘Having Three Voices’ Triprosôpos ‘Triple-faced’ Triva ‘Of the Three Ways’, ‘Goddess of Three Roads’ Tymbidian ‘Sepulchral’ Tymborychos ‘Gravedigger’, ‘Grave-Robber’ Zatheiê ‘Divine’ Zatheos ‘Divine’ Zerynthia ‘Of Mount Zerynthia’ Zônodrakontis / Zonodrakontos ‘Encircled by Serpents’, ‘Covered in Snakes’, ‘Intertwined with Snakes’ Zootrophos ‘Nourisher of Life’

Many of these misconceptions can be very popular, but have no historical backing.

-She is a “crone goddess” This misconception probably comes from more recent literary representations of her. In Ancient Greek religion she was always portrayed as a young maiden.

-She is a “triple goddess” or the Triple Goddess The Triple Goddess is a purely modern creation/belief. This concept of deity was created in the mid 1900s along with Wicca. Since Hekate predates Wicca and neo-pagan movements by about 2,000 years, she couldn’t really be the Triple Goddess. She is not a Wiccan deity, so therefore, she would not be defined or characterized by a Wiccan concept of deity. While she is commonly portrayed as three women, that was only to depict her domain over the three way crossroads, unlike the Triple Goddess whose aspects each represent a different thing.

-Hekate is not a witch goddess This is so far from true. Even if this role isn’t one of her original roles, such as the ones described by Hesiod, this aspect did become quite prevalent later in the Hellenic world. The evidence of her role as a witch goddess is very commonly portrayed in Ancient Greek literature and mythos. Kirke and Medea, arguably two of the most popular witches ever, were both priestesses, or in some cases daughters, of Hekate. Whenever witches performed their magic such as necromancy, binding spells, curses, image magic, and other spells, they called on Hekate. This relationship between witches and Hekate is not only shown in Greek literature but in Roman literature as well such as the tale of the witch Erichtho is Lucan’s Pharsalia.

-Hekate is JUST a witch goddess Though her role as a witch goddess is probably the most popular in literature and with neo pagans and Wiccans, this is far from her only aspect. As described by Hesiod, she was a goddess of the heavens, the earth, and the sea, and a child protector. She was also known to be a goddess of the crossroads and the dead. She guards the gates to the underworld and holds dominions over the daemones (spirits) and ghosts. She also later became a goddess of the moon and is celebrated every dark moon at her Deipnon.