Zeus gave the god of the underworld, Hades, permission to abduct Persephone (goddess of vegetation and spring) and take her into the netherworld. Persephone, to give a quick backstory, was the daughter of the harvest goddess Demeter. Likewise, Hecate performs this function with Persephone. The mythic ferryman Charon is one such figure, ferrying the souls of dead across the river Styx. A psychopomp is a being involved in the transmigration of the soul. One of Hecate’s most famous roles in Greek mythology is when she serves as psychopomp to Persephone. When Hecuba slew a king and was in turn killed for her crimes, the gods transformed Hecuba into a black dog, whereupon she became Hecate’s animal companion. Odysseus, the hero of the Odyssey, took Queen Hecuba as a slave after the fall of Troy. She also assisted Zeus in his war against the Titans, despite being born to a Titan herself. The Gigantes were known for their aggression, and Hecate killed the giant Clytius with her famous torches. In the stories, Hecate helped the gods in their struggle against the Gigantes, the hundred giants mothered by Gaia.
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Here’s a summary of the most important tales featuring the goddess Hecate, and how to worship Her in your personal pagan practice. The best way to connect with Hecate, like any goddess or god, is through the mythology, epithets and symbols. Hecate’s presence as a goddess of the Mysteries imply that she played a significant part in moving from a normal state of consciousness into the state of ecstatic madness that the Mysteries became famous for. Many magical and esoteric practices occurred at the Eleusinian Mysteries. Those who practiced the Eleusinian Mysteries (the most famous of the secret religious rites of ancient Greece) paid homage to Hecate, and psychoactive and hallucinogenic plants were unsurprisingly associated with her as well. She taught other mythological figures such as the witch Medea how to work with Magic. The goddess was also known for her closeness to both medicines and poisons. Among others that Hecate takes a keen interest in are horsemen, sailors and fishers, and children. Athletes, as well, operate under the auspices of Hecate for they also want the glory of victory. The goddess Hecate watches battles and determines whom she will grant the glory of victory to. Hesiod even goes so far as to say that when a human makes a sacrifice, that human invokes the power of Hecate herself and it is her decision whether to bestow fortune and happiness upon that person. Zeus often showered Hecate with gifts, and the other immortal deities of the Greek pantheon honor her as well in their various ways. The ancient Greek poet Hesiod noted that Hecate received much praise from Zeus, the King of Mount Olympus.