To: alt.mythology
From: brunelson@aol.com (BruNelson)
Subject: Re: Interested in Hecate
Date: 4 Dec 1994 19:33:33 GMT
Quoting: |Holly Berry 

[re: Hekate]

|I am particularly interested in her rulerships.  Does she rule dogs for
|instance? What other associations are linked to her?

She doesn't really 'rule' dogs (if such a thing were possible). She is
portrayed as being accompanied by packs of howling dogs, and the spirits
of those souls caught between the realms--criminals, suicides and others
who haven't been able to transmigrate properly. In fact these sorts of
bodies were apparently left at crossroads for her to assist (a sense here
that she unlike other gods is willing to extend her compassion even to
those things that are 'polluted'). In terms of other associations, the
hymns in the Papyri are quite rich. She is identified with Aphrodite and
is also refered to as the goddess of harbors. Her appearance can be quite
horrific--snakes in her hair, burning eyes, a true graveyard vision. Not
unlike Kali. She is patroness of sorcercy--the goddess that Medea invoked
in her magic. At the same time she is a goddess of divine love, and a
guardian to the higher realms. Quite unusual don't you think?

Bruce
Bruce Nelson@aol.com
--------------------------

To: alt.mythology
From: brunelson@aol.com (BruNelson)
Subject: Re: Interested in Hecate
Date: 4 Dec 1994 19:34:41 GMT
Quoting: |Chris Camfield 

|I have never heard of Hecate being associated (or identified!)
|with Aphrodite.  Can you provide a reference or two please?

It probably would have been better to say Hekate is associated with
Aphrodite rather than identified with her. When I wrote my earlier post I
was thinking of the lines in the Greek Magical Papyri (Betz, PGM IV,
2553-2558) addressed to Hekate/Selene...

"Come here, she-wolf, and come here now, Mistress
 of night and chthonic realms, holy, black-clad
 Round whom the star-traversing nature of
 The world revolves whenever you wax too great.
 You have established every worldly thing
 For you engendered everything on earth
 And from the sea and every race in turn
 Of winged birds who seek their hearts gain
 Mother of all, who bore love, Aphrodite"

Later (PGM IV 2752) in a love spell addressed to Hekate (Selene and
Aphrodite also frequently are appealed to in love spells) we read...

"Come Hekate, of fiery counsel
 I call you to my sacred chants...
 ...may she hold me alone
 And come subdued in heart by love's great force."

At one level the association of Hekate and Aphrodite comes from the close
relationship between magic and love, especially as above where magic is
used to procure love. There is also the more theurgic sense of love as
that which magically binds gods and humans.  This association is also
hinted at in the Orphic hymn to Hekate (Hogart's adaptation) which closes
with...

"Healer and guide,
 Give us pure desires 
 Accept our love and bless us
 With awe in the dark."

Bruce
BruNelson@aol.com