"HECATE", WHOSE NAME MEANS "SHE WHO WORKS HER WILL" OCCUPIES A RATHER UNCERTAIN PLACE IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY. IN EARLIER ACCOUNTS, SHE IS SEEN AS A POWERFUL DEITY ASSOCIATED WITH BRIGHTNESS, BUT IN LATER TIMES, SHE IS CONNECTED WITH DARKNESS AND THE "UNDERWORLD". SHE IS THE OLDEST GODDESS IN WESTERN CULTURE TO HE ASSOCIATED WITH WITCHCRAFT. "HECATE" WAS A GODDESS OF THE MOON, THE" UNDERWORLD", ENCHANTMENT, THE CROSSROADS, AND THE NIGHT SPIRITS.
IN HESIOD'S "THEOGONY", "HECATE" IS CONSIDERED "ZEUS' "FAVORITE GODDESS:
"HECATE WHOM ZEUS THE SON OF CRONOS HONOURED ABOVE ALL. HE GAVE HER SPLENDID GIFTS, TO HAVE A SHARE OF THE EARTH AND THE UNFRUITFUL SEA. SHE RECEIVED HONOUR ALSO IN STARRY HEAVEN, AND IS HONOURED EXCEEDINGLY BY THE DEATHLESS GODS.... THE SON OF CRONOS DID HER NO WRONG NOR TOOK ANYTHING AWAY OF ALL THAT WAS HER PORTION AMONG THE FORMER TITAN GODS: BUT SHE HOLDS, AS THE DIVISION WAS AT THE FIRST FROM THE BEGINNING, PRIVILEGE BOTH IN EARTH, AND IN HEAVEN, AND IN SEA". "
ACCORDING TO HESIOD, HER GIFTS TOWARDS MANKIND ARE ALL-ENCOMPASSING:
"WHOM SHE WILL SHE GREATLY AIDS AND ADVANCES: SHE SITS BY WORSHIPFUL KINGS IN JUDGEMENT, AND IN THE ASSEMBLY WHOM HER WILL IS DISTINGUISHED AMONG THE PEOPLE. AND WHEN MEN ARM THEMSELVES FOR THE BATTLE THAT DESTROYS MEN, THEN THE GODDESS IS AT HAND TO GIVE VICTORY AND GRANT GLORY READILY TO WHOM SHE WILL. GOOD IS SHE ALSO WHEN MEN CONTEND AT THE GAMES, FOR THERE TOO THE GODDESS IS WITH THEM AND PROFITS THEM: AND HE WHO BY MIGHT AND STRENGTH GETS THE VICTORY WINS THE RICH PRIZE EASILY WITH JOY, AND BRINGS GLORY TO HIS PARENTS. AND SHE IS GOOD TO STAND BY HORSEMEN, WHOM SHE WILL: AND TO THOSE WHOSE BUSINESS IS IN THE GREY DISCOMFORTABLE SEA, AND WHO PRAY TO HECATE AND THE LOUD-CRASHING EARTH-SHAKER, EASILY THE GLORIOUS GODDESS GIVES GREAT CATCH, AND EASILY SHE TAKES IT AWAY AS SOON AS SEEN, IF SO SHE WILL. SHE IS GOOD IN THE BYRE WITH HERMES TO INCREASE THE STOCK. THE DROVES OF KINE AND WIDE HERDS OF GOATS AND FLOCKS OF FLEECY SHEEP, IF SHE WILL, SHE INCREASES FROM A FEW, OR MAKES MANY TO BE LESS"
"FOR TO THIS DAY, WHENEVER ANY ONE OF MEN ON EARTH OFFERS RICH SACRIFICES AND PRAYS FOR FAVOUR ACCORDING TO CUSTOM, HE CALLS UPON HECATE. GREAT HONOUR COMES FULL EASILY TO HIM WHOSE PRAYERS THE GODDESS RECEIVES FAVOURABLY, AND SHE BESTOWS WEALTH UPON HIM; FOR THE POWER SURELY IS WITH HER"
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