Hecate

Hecate
Hecate is the greek god associated with magic, witchcraft, necromancy, the moon and crossroads. She is also sometimes associated with dogs, childbirth, doorways and torches. In Roman mythology she is paralled to Trivia. Hecate is the offspring of Perses and Asteria who was the sister of Leto.

Mythology
Hecate is thought of being a pre-Olympian goddess, the place of her origin is thought to be Thrace, her sanctuary was Lagina, a theocratic city state in which she is served by eunuchs.

One story says that Hecate was a mortal who insulted the goddess Artemis who causes Hecate to commit suicide. Artemis then adorns her with jewelry and commands the spirit to arise and become the goddess Hecate. As Hecate's cult grew she was inserted into the myth of Zeus' birth as one of the midwives that hid the child.

Hecate was a virgin goddess, she remained unmarried although some traditions name her as the mother of Syclla. She was also associated with other moon goddess she ruled over the three kingdoms: the sky, the sea and the earth. Hecate had the power to create black storms which gave her sway over sailors.

Animals and Plants
The dog is linked to Hecate as are frogs. in her three-headed representations she has more than one animal head: a cow, a dog, boar, a serpent and or a horse.

Hecate has many plants linked to her. She is sometimes thought to wear fragments of oak and the yew is sacred to her. She is said to favor offerings of garlic and linked to belladonna, dittany and mandrake and the cypress tree.

Places
Hecate is linked to borders, city walls and doorways, crossroads and realms outside the living. It's also possible that she is assocciated with keys and watchdogs.