Ok, I recently seen the rather newer site "Why Wiccans Still Suck" and it mentioned in a section a tiny blurb about Hecate. Ok, I only know tiny bits and pieces about her, as I am still learning about her, but I want to mention something. It says on this site: "Hecate was not a beautiful scantily-clad maiden dancing through the flowers with elves and faeries. She had three heads".
Ok, perhaps in ONE depiction of her (as there are NUMEROUS depictions of Hecate). This is not the end-all be-all of depictions of Hecate, so one should not be a hypocrit and claim that, that is how she is to be depicted at all times. In fact hecate was NOT always thought of as one with three heads, she was indeed depicted as a young woman, often accompanied by dogs (who perhaps themselves had three heads), and/or torches, standing at a three-way crossroads (as she is not only the Goddess of Witches, but also the Goddess of the crossroads). As well, she was pictured as an old crone, carrying a staff and a lantern.
The point is, no one really knows the true identity of Hecate and what she looks like. In all likelihood, she appears however she wants to. It would do the author of this site some good to do some true research on Hecate before making false claims that Hecate is a threeheaded person, and that's all she is to be represented by.
More info:
http://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/Hekate.html
http://www.hecatescauldron.org/index.htm
As the matron of all magic, Hecate indeed stands at the crossroads, the balance point of the universe, the point where Order and Chaos meet. As such, she must always be paradox. Her face is a beautiful maiden, and la calavera, the skull. She is young, old, beautiful, hideous, alluring, terrifying.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sticking up for her!
Thank you for your comment. I think you did a great job of describing her, I couldn't have said it better. Those reasons are why she facinates me, which is why I follow her, and will do only my best to defend her (not that I believe she needs me to, she can do that on her own, but it's the obligation of her follower that I do).
ReplyDeletejust because having 3 heads doesn't make any god/goddess any disrespect. Every god/goddess has her/his own characteristics, it is the duty of the believer to accept that and honor it. Besides, there are many non-roman religion which depicts gods with many heads and still being followed by millions, without question... I think i made my point...^_^
ReplyDeleteI agree that many deities are depicted with numerous heads, limbs, etc. However, as stated, no one really knows what Hecate looks like. The point I was making, was that the author of this particular site was implying that Hecate is a grotesque figure...something to fear (an implication based off VERY little information and a LOT of fiction). Throughout the post I defend that yes, she was in some instances described AS having three heads, but was not necessarily grotesque (at least when not, say, exacting vengence, as she IS a Goddess of Justice). She was viewed as an attractive figure to some, a crone to others. I never said her having three heads was a disrespectful description...I DID say though, that it wasn't the ONLY description of Hecate...something the author of the site is saying is the only way to view her.
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