Hecate is a figure from ancient Greek religion and mythology, often associated with magic, witchcraft, the moon, ghosts, and the underworld.

Her origins are somewhat obscure, and she is a complex deity with various roles and attributes that evolved over time.

1. Origins and Lineage: Hecate is sometimes considered a Titaness and at other times a deity of more ambiguous origin. According to Hesiod's Theogony, she is the daughter of the Titans Perses and Asteria.

2. Attributes and Symbols: Hecate is often depicted holding two torches, and she is sometimes shown with three faces, which symbolize her ability to see in all directions. She is also associated with keys, indicative of her role as a guardian of thresholds and gates.

3. Roles and Functions: In Greek mythology, Hecate is a versatile goddess. She is revered as a goddess of boundaries and transitions, especially those related to life and death. She is also a protector of households and is invoked in rituals concerning family and property. Hecate is closely linked to the moon and night, and she is often associated with nocturnal creatures like dogs and owls.

4. Witches and Magic: Over time, particularly in later Hellenistic and Roman traditions, Hecate became prominently connected with magic and witchcraft. She was often invoked in magical rites and was considered both a powerful protectress and a bringer of curses.

5. Cult and Worship: Worship of Hecate included offerings left at crossroads, a liminal space where her influence was thought to be powerful. The places where three roads meet, or "triform intersections," were especially sacred to her.

6. Literary Depictions: Hecate appears in various Greek texts, including the Homeric Hymns and the works of Apollonius of Rhodes. Her role varies from a nurturing and helping figure to a more fearsome and chthonic deity. She is also a prominent character in the play "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare, which highlights her association with witchcraft and the supernatural.

Overall, Hecate is a multifaceted deity whose worship and representation have shifted considerably throughout history, reflecting changes in cultural perceptions of magic, the divine, and female power.

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