Hecate would appear to have been originally a moon-goddess worshipped by the Thracians. As a goddess of childbirth, she was often invoked for rites of puberty, and in some cases watched over maidens who were beginning to menstruate. Eventually, Hecate evolved to become a goddess of magic and sorcery. She became confounded, and eventually identified with Selene and Persephone. Her mother was Astræa (the starry night), and her sway extended over the earth, heaven, and hell, for which reason she is represented in works of art as a triple divinity, having three female bodies, all young and beautiful, and united together
She was supposed to be connected with the appearance of ghosts and specters, to possess unlimited influence over the powers of the lower world, and to be able to lay to rest unearthly apparitions by her magic spells and incantations. At night she sent from the lower world all kinds of demons and terrible phantoms, who taught sorcery and witchcraft, who dwelt at places where two roads crossed each other, on tombs, and near the blood of murdered persons. She herself too wanders about with the souls of the dead, and her approach is announced by the whining and howling of dogs
The torch she holds illuminates the darkness, as the Greeks secured Hecate in her role as the bringer of wisdom. The dagger is linked to magic and witchcraft, too. In literature witches cut herbs with bronze daggers. And in necromancy and magic daggers were used to control spirits. Or to protect against evils spirits. The dagger in her hands is again a symbol for her as a mistress of spirits and magic. The spirits could appear as snakes. In literature Hecate is depicted with the snake in her hands- it is possible that this portrays her as Goddess of spirits and magic (in antiquity magic was more a controlling of spirits and the spirits fulfilled the will of the witch of magician). Snakes were used in necromancy and magic to figure out if the spirits are around- because like dogs- the snakes were able to see/feel the presence of the spirits.
At the close of every month dishes with food were set out for her and other averters of evil at the points where two roads crossed each other.
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Made by us in our Studio
Size: A3 Size (29.7 x 42.0cm), (11.69 x 16.53 inches)
Paper: Cotton Munken Polar 240 gsm.
Features: Metallic Foil
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Environment / Safety: FSC-C020637, PEFC_05-33-99, EU Ecolabel : SE/011/05, The paper is inspected for Nordic Ecolabelled printing, ECF, ISO 14001, EMAS, Age resistant (ISO 9706), Woodfree
(Frame not included)
