Temple of Hecate. Dark goddesses. What if the Statue of Liberty is an image...

Goddess Hecate

Hecate – she is a Goddess shrouded in mystery as debate continues about Her name, origins and character. There are several legends about Her, and there is no fixed lineage. Some say that Hecate is the daughter of Erebus and Nyx, the eternal Goddess of the night, while others believe that She is one of the Furies or the last surviving Titan, with the exception of Zeus. Hesiod claims that She was born from the Titan Persian and the star goddess Asteria. Musaeus claims that She was born of Asteria and Zeus, Euripides says that She is the daughter of Leto, while the Thessalian legend says that Hecate is the daughter of Admetus and a Pheraean woman.

It is likely that the birth attributed to Hecate changed as different social groups adopted Her cult, but no Greek Clan or Tribe ever claimed anything decent about Hecate. Both facts support the theory that She originated outside of Greece.

Hecate probably originated in Carian mythology in southwest Asia Minor, and was integrated into Greek religion around the sixth century AD. However, there is evidence that Hecate evolved from the Egyptian midwife goddess Hekit (also "Heket" or "Hecate"). The frog-headed goddess Hekit facilitated the daily birth of the Sun and was bound by the seemingly magical germination of a seemingly lifeless corn seed. In pre-dynastic Egypt, the matriarch and wise woman of the tribe was called "heq". It is interesting to note that Hecate was associated with the birth of a child.

The name Hecate has several possible meanings. "She who does Her Will" is most commonly accepted, but variations have also been suggested "distant" or "far-swift" Such names suggest that Her power has far-reaching consequences..

An alternative derivation, "most radiant", is supported by fourth-century CE representations of Hecate, which show a youthful goddess of beauty and strength, carrying a torch with a headdress of stars. "Hecate" is the feminine equivalent of "Hekatos", the dark epithet of Apollo with which She is sometimes associated.

The Olympians "accepted" Her after they defeated the Titans, but She was not of the same kind, and never lived among them. At this time, Hecate's power is still recognized: Zeus gave her dominion over Heaven, Earth and Sea, and they shared the right to accept or refuse gifts from humanity. Hecate was revered as the Goddess of abundance and eloquence. She remains generous to those who acknowledge Her.

According to the Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities, Hecate was "worshipped only at night by torchlight."

Hecate is sometimes referred to as a triple goddess. Classically, she shared the same group with Persephone and Demeter. Contrary to modern pagan assumptions, Demeter represented the old woman, Persephone the woman-wife, and Hecate the Virgo. All early Greek representations of Hecate show Her as a young woman. Only much later was She depicted as an Old Woman.

At Mytilene on the Eastern Aegean coast, near what was Troy, there are Temples of Demeter where women go to the annual Eleusis festival to celebrate fertility rituals. There is ample evidence that Hecate was revered there, perhaps as a guide to initiates in the Mysteries.

But Hecate's power disappeared. In later myths, She is presented as the daughter of Zeus, who rules the Underworld and the waning Moon. The Greeks began to emphasize Her darker aspects; Hecate as Goddess of the Dead and Queen of Witches. She was increasingly depicted as wandering the earth on moonless nights in the company of barking dogs and the hungry ghosts of those dead who were not ready to die, who were killed, or who were not given appropriate burial rituals.

No other Greek deity attracted such an atmosphere of "evil and corrupt superstition." How did Hecate transform from a popular, bright young Goddess into a dark and terrifying witch? We may never know for sure, but there are some interesting clues.

Hecate has long been associated with crossroads where three roads meet. The crossroads are usually assumed to symbolize Hecate's triple nature and all-seeing powers, but there are deeper mysteries. After crossing the Styx, the recently deceased ancient Greek soul found itself at the place of judgment, where three roads met. One road led to the Champs Elysees, the abode of the blessed, which preserved the great and heroic. The second leads to the fields of Asphodel - for all those who led an immaculate but ordinary life. Criminals or those who angered the gods followed the third road to Tartarus, the sunless land of punishment.

But intersections were also seen as ominous and dangerous places. In many traditions, suicides and criminals were buried here. Were the two related or confused in some way? It is noteworthy that the particular intersection where three roads meet is sacred to Hecate, while just any intersection is considered ominous.

The Romans accepted Hecate and her role changed again. Hecate became one aspect of the Triple Moon Goddess - Diana (Full Moon, associated with the Earth), Proserpina (lunar phases, associated with the Heavens) and Hecate (New Moon, associated with the Underworld).

As the power of the Solar Gods increased, Hecate became increasingly demonized, until in the Middle Ages She was reduced to a parody of an evil crone.

Mythology

Hecate's most famous role in Greek myth concerns Homer's Hymn to Demeter. Demeter's beloved daughter, Persephone, the Goddess of Spring, was playing in the meadows when Hades emerged from the Underworld and captured Her. Hecate knew this had happened:

Hecate reveals the truth to Demeter and together they go to try to free Persephone. In the end, it is decided that Persephone should spend part of the year in the Underworld with Hades, and the rest on Earth with Demeter. From now on, Hecate acts as a guide for Persephone in her travels between worlds.

Wolfsbane (also known as Monk's Hood, Wolfsbane) is a highly poisonous plant sacred to Hecate. According to myth, the plant appeared where drops of Cerberus's saliva fell to the ground while Hercules was dragging the dog-beast from the Underworld.

In later myths, Hecate appears as the daughter of Zeus and Hera. Hecate was sent to the Underworld after incurring the wrath of Hera for stealing a jar of rouge for Europa, who was Zeus' mistress. Hecate fled to Earth and hid in the house of a woman who had just given birth. In late Classical Greece, contact with childbirth was unclean, so the Cabiri immersed Hecate in the Underground River Acheron to purify Her. Since then, Hecate has remained in the Underworld.

This story tells us a lot about attitudes in late Greece, as in the case of Hecate. While in earlier times Hecate seems to have been revered as the goddess of childbirth, now birth has become "unclean."

Sacred to Hecate

All wild animals are sacred to Hecate, and sometimes She appears three-headed, with the heads of a dog, a horse and a bear, or a dog, a snake and a lion. But the creatures of darkness and earth are most sacred to Her; crows, owls, snakes and dragons. The frog, a significant creature that can swim between two elements, is also sacred to Hecate and the Egyptian goddess Hekit.

Yew, cypress, hazel, black poplar and java are sacred to Hecate. The leaves of the black poplar are dark on one side and light on the other, symbolizing the border between worlds.

The yew has long been associated with the Underworld. This the longest plant in Europe, and, according to its nature, “resurrects itself”: As the central trunk dies, a new tree sprouts within the rotting core. Perhaps due to this feature, it is so often found in cemeteries as a symbol of eternal life. In Brittany, it is believed that the yew sends its root into the mouth of each corpse, allowing the spirit to emerge and be reborn. Yew is strongly associated with death and rebirth. The poison from its seeds was used for arrows, and its wood was commonly used to make bows and dagger hilts. The potion in Hecate's cauldron contains "yew leaves".

Other plants and herbs associated with Hecate include garlic, almond, lavender, myrrh, wormwood, cardamom, mint, dandelion, hellebore and lesser celandine. Several poisons and hallucinogens are also associated with Her, including belladonna, hemlock, mandrake, aconite (classically known as "hecateis") and opium poppy.

Dandelion tea was used to summon spirits and was said to enhance psychic powers.

In ancient Greece, snakes were the creatures most often associated with the dead, and it was commonly believed that the dead could appear in the form of snakes. Several images of Hecate show Her holding a snake. Snakes have long been associated with chthonic forces and the extraordinary wisdom of the Other World.

The dog is the animal most often associated with Hecate, and She is sometimes addressed as " black woman dog" Black dogs were once sacrificed to Her in purification rituals, and Hecate may have appeared in the form of a dog. The sound of dogs barking is the first sign of Her appearance in Greek and Roman literature:

"The earth began to hum,

The howling of dogs came from the darkness,

Announcing the approach of the goddess to them"

Aeneid, BookVI, Virgil.

Ovid writes that Hecate can emerge from the darkness in the imagination “with a long howl.” There is evidence of old beliefs that the souls of the unburied dead will appear in the form of dogs. Hecate is sometimes identified with the three-headed dog Cerberus, who guards the entrance to Hades, and there may be a connection with the dog-headed Egyptian god Anubis, who guides souls to the Underworld.

The dog is also well known as the guardian of the house, standing watch at the door, and this seems to relate to Hecate's role as a guardian.

An ancient grove near Lake Averno in Italy has long been sacred to Hecate.

Samhain is especially important to Hecate, but several holidays are celebrated in Her honor: August 13th is a time to ask Her blessing on the upcoming harvest, since, as the Goddess of Storms, Hecate has the ability to destroy the crops before they are cut.

Night of Hecate

Sunset on November 16 marks the beginning of the Night of Hecate. If you only honor Her once a year, now is the time to do it! Animal sacrifices took place in Ancient Greece, but leaving Hecate's Supper at the crossroads is a more appropriate offering for modern times. Traditionally, Hecate's Supper was eaten outdoors under the Dark Moon, at a crossroads, with one plate reserved for Hecate. After eating, Hecate's plate was placed at the crossroads. After giving the offering, you need to leave without looking back. Remember that gifts given to Hecate cannot be recycled, so don't use your best porcelain. It is Hekate's right to choose - to decide who (or what) will consume the offering, be it wild animals or people, it is a matter of how She accepts the offering.

The traditional dish for Hecate's Supper usually includes eggs, fish eggs, goat and sheep cheese, sprat, red mullet, garlic, mushrooms and honey cake surrounded by illuminating torches or cakes decorated with miniature imitation torches (candles). Other ideas include garlic, salmon, honey and edible flowers.

In the past and present, those who follow Hecate are often initiated into Her secrets on this night.

In some traditions, January 31st is the day Hecate passes her torch to Brigid, whose arrival is celebrated at Imbolc. There seems to be a parallel here with the Holly King and the Oak King, each ruling for half the year: Hecate carries the torch through the dark half of the year, while Brigitte takes it for the light half. Some speculate that Hecate and Brigid are sisters who share the torch.

All this may seem very strange, because Hecate is a Greek Goddess, and Brigid is a Celtic Goddess. But traditional beliefs that develop over time may have little to do with historical origins. Both Goddesses are very ancient and have been revered in Britain for centuries, so who was to say that a relationship could develop between them?

Hecate was traditionally worshiped on the eve of the New Moon or the 30th of the month, when Hecate's Supper was prepared. This is also the time to cleanse your home.

Offerings

The food offering traditionally known as "Hecate's Supper" includes red mullet, (cleaned fish, which was taboo in other cults), sprat, bread, raw eggs, cheese, garlic, cake and honey. Ideally, the offering should be left at an intersection and you should walk away without looking back.

Small round cakes decorated with miniature torches were also offered on the eve of the New Moon or Full Moon. This practice may stem from the close relationship between Hecate and Artemis.

This practice has a very long history. The Christian Church is still trying to stop people leaving offerings at crossroads like in the late 11th century, and it certainly continues today, so it's possible that there is an unbroken tradition going on.

Instruction of the Dark Goddess

Hear the words of the Dark Goddess of Transformation; She, who is old, was also called among men Kali, Hecate, Ceridwen, Lilith, Persephone, Fata, Morgana, Ereshkigal, Arianrhod, Durga, Inanna, Tiamat and countless other names:

"Hear me child and know me for I exist. I have been with you since you were born, and I will remain with you until you return to me in the last twilight. I am a passionate and seductive lover who inspires the poet to dream. I am the One who calls you at the end of your journey. At the end of the day, my children find blessed rest in my arms. I am the womb from which all things are born. I am the dark, motionless tomb; all things must come to me and bare their breasts in order to die and be reborn to the Whole.”

"I am the Witch, which will not be ruled, Weaver of Time, Teacher of Mysteries. I cut the threads that bring my children home to me. I cut the throats of the cruel and drink the blood of the heartless. Absorb your fear and come to me and you will discover the truth of beauty, strength and courage. I am the fury that tears the flesh from injustice. I am the blazing forge that transforms your inner demons into instruments of power. Open yourself to my embrace and overcome.”

“I am the shining sword that protects you from harm. I am the crucible in which all of your aspects arise together in a rainbow of unity. I am the velvety depths of the night sky, the swirling mist of midnight, shrouded in mystery. I am the chrysalis in which you will face what terrifies you and from which you will then blossom, alive and renewed. Look for me at the crossroads and you will be transformed, for once you see my face there will be no return"

"I am fire, burning shackles away. I am a cauldron in which all opposites grow to know each other in Truth. I am the network that connects all things. I am the Healer of all wounds, the Warrior who corrects injustices in right time. I make the weak strong. I make arrogance humble. I lift up the downtrodden and empower the disenfranchised. I am Justice tempered by Mercy."

“The most important thing, child, I am you. I am a part of you, and I am inside you. Seek me inside and out and you will be strong. Get to know me. Allow yourself to enter the darkness so that you can awaken to Balance, Enlightenment and Wholeness. Take my love wherever you are and find the inner Strength to be whoever you want to be."

Hecate says:

I'm in the dark

dark moonlit night

With my hounds

Where three roads meet

At the crossroads

Place of choice

All paths lead to a crossroads

And they're all tempting

But you can only choose one of them

Choice creates ending

And all beginnings come from endings

At the crossroads

Which one will you choose?

Which way will you go?

Although the choice is yours

I'll share a secret with you

The path of choice is the entrance to the void

The path of choice is allowing yourself to die

The path of choice is free flight

Oracle of the Goddess, Amy Sophia Marashinsky

In world mythology there were goddesses who were not always kind and merciful. They demanded a special kind of worship from their admirers. Such deities include Hecate, the goddess of darkness and gloom. Even experts in Greek mythology have not always heard of her, because she is often hidden behind other deities. After reading this article, you will get complete information about it.

Acquaintance

Hecate is the goddess of darkness among the Greeks. She is considered the ruler of the night, which is why she is also called the goddess of night and darkness. All ghosts, monsters, night visions and sorceries were under her dominion. According to legend, she was born from the marriage of Asteria and the titan Persian. After she was born (although in her case it would be more accurate to say - into darkness), the supreme god Zeus the Thunderer endowed Hecate with power over the destinies of the inhabitants of both the earth and the sea, and Uranus, the god of Heaven (her grandfather), endowed her with indestructible strength. In a word, she was under the protection of the sky and the depths of the sea. In later versions of this myth, the goddess Hecate wore a necklace of eggs on her chest, which gave her secret power, and her hair was a writhing snake like the Gorgon Medusa, which was capable of turning people into stone. Hecate was also depicted with sharp horns on her head and holding a torch. Doesn't this remind you of anything? Yes, yes, many see similarities with the famous Statue of Liberty in New York. Nevertheless, the author of the statue, a French sculptor, refutes these assumptions.

Origin

Initially, the goddess Hecate was a Thracian and Anatolian goddess and only later moved into the Greek pantheon, where she took the place of the deity of the moonlight, as well as the goddess of the underworld, that is, the underworld. She patronized all monsters and ghosts, witches. She was often depicted surrounded by Stygian dogs. It was first mentioned by Hesiod in the 8th century BC. e. The religious historian Nilsson suggested that the cult of the goddess Hecate originated from Caria. He noticed that there are many personal names in this area that contain the root of her name.

Transfiguration

By the way, there is a version according to which the Greek goddess Hecate was a completely virtuous goddess of the Moon. She patronized hunting, horse breeding, shepherding, protected children and young men at night, granted victory during competitions, and supported them in court and in war. In a word, she was a very revered goddess, in whom the Greeks saw a savior, but in Greece they began to intensively cultivate such gods as Apollo and Hermes, Artemis and Aphrodite, and then she faded into the background, her influence weakened, and she gradually turned into the formidable, fearsome and terrifying goddess of darkness and darkness.

Goddess of the Underworld - Hecate

It was especially popular among the “Orphics,” that is, the mystics. Sometimes she was associated with the mysteries - Rhea, Cybele, Persephone, Demeter. In many images she appears with a torch in her hand. Sculptors created her statues, and then they were placed at crossroads, it was believed that in this way one could be protected from trouble and misfortune. On the other hand, it was believed that it causes madness, obsession, insanity and sends people terrible visions and ghosts.

Time passed, and the goddess Hecate in Greek mythology acquired more and more qualities. For example, she began to be considered the patroness of sorcerers, witches and sorceresses. On the other hand, people asked her to protect them from evil demons.

Children

Hecate, the goddess of darkness, according to legend, was the mother of the monster Empusa, who at night took the form of a miracle maiden and carried away and destroyed travelers, and sometimes turned into a terrible ghost and frightened lonely wanderers. They said that his face was burning with heat, and one of his legs was made of copper. And from Forkis, the sea deity, the goddess Hecate gave birth to a daughter, Scylla.

Mythical stories

There are many stories about this goddess in Greek mythology. The most famous of them is associated with Demeter. According to her, the goddess Hecate, whose photo (exposition) you see in our article, helps the desperate goddess of fertility find her daughter Persephone, who was kidnapped. No one wanted to help Demeter, and only she extended a helping hand to her. After all, Hecate’s mother once died because of Zeus, who desired her, but her aunt, Leto, gave in to the Thunderer and survived. This story made Hecate the goddess of humiliated, insulted, offended women from the common people. And she was terrible in her revenge, she could bring madness, illness and misfortune to the offender. However, for this, the woman who called for the help of the goddess had to perform a magical ritual.

There is a legend that it was the goddess Hecate who helped the Georgian Medea fall in love with the handsome Jason, although he later abandoned her. Another story with Hecate is connected with this myth. This time she is hiding under the guise of the goddess Electra, who initiates the Argonauts into her mysteries.

Priestesses of the temple

Hecate, the goddess of darkness, had many admirers, and a temple was created for them, the priestess of which was the sorceress Circe. She lived on an island, attracted men and turned them into different animals. Only Odysseus, with the support of the god Hermes, was able to resist her charms. He seduced her and stayed with her for about three years. There is a version that Agamemnon’s daughter, Iphigenia, was also a priestess of Hecate, although she presented herself as a servant of Artemis in Tauris. This became evident when she turned into an animal during the sacrifice. The plot of the myth about Iphigenia is very similar to the “classical myth” about Hecate.

Later myths

Gradually, the legend about this deity changed so much that it was difficult to draw a parallel between them. Thus, in later myths, Zeus and Hera were considered the parents of Hecate. She greatly angered her mother when she began to help Europa, one of the beloved of her father, the thunderer Zeus. First, she helps Europe during childbirth, while hiding from her own mother at the bedside of the woman in labor, and then she has no choice but to go to Hades and settle there. There is another legend, according to which she herself turns into either a bear or a wild boar, kills, and then revives her son.

Triple Goddess

The goddess of darkness Hecate (see photo in the article) in some paintings and even statues is depicted as having a three-body body. This speaks of the trinity of her character. Each of the three bodies belonged to mature women who were looking in different directions and holding torches, snake whips and daggers in their hands. It was these statues of Hecate that were placed in the middle of the crossroads. According to one version, each of the three women symbolizes one of her three hypostases, namely the goddess of abundance and fertility, the Moon, witchcraft and darkness. However, if you look at their images, you can hardly find a relationship with the above-mentioned goddesses. Her three-body nature was also associated with her three forms: mare, lion and dog. She was the only goddess who ruled the three stages of human existence - birth, adulthood and death, that is, the past, present and future were under her authority. There were also versions that its triplicity lies in the three states of the Moon: waxing, full moon and waning. It is also said that she possessed the “three whips of power” and used them to control humanity. However, if you look at her images, you can only see two whips (sometimes depicted in the form of snakes), which are held in both hands by one of the three bodies of the goddess. But the other two have other objects in their hands. By the way, on those statues where she is depicted in one body, she holds two torches, which symbolize darkness, gloom.

Lunar Triad

The Amazon goddess Artemis was the "occult sister" of the goddess of darkness. They have a lot in common both in character and in terms of attributes and the path along which they rush. They are independent and do not have husbands who would restrict their freedom. They are always and everywhere accompanied by dogs. They are the patroness of women in trouble, especially through the fault of men. Artemis, Hecate and Selene - they represent the lunar triad, they are all virgins, independent, self-sufficient, they can compete and achieve their goals. They love to put things in order and make the world more beautiful and fair. Unlike the first two, Selena has a lover, but she likes to sit and watch him sleep, but she is not attracted to real love.

Earth Triad

Demeter, Persephone, Hecate are sisters in spirit. Persephone's name includes the name of Hecate's father - the titan Persian, but a piece of the “background” speaks of her destructive power, because she cuts the thread of fate and calls to the underworld. In the concept of the earthly triad, Hecate appears to be a “vulnerable” goddess. Her well-being depends on the kind of relationships she builds. She is receptive to those who ask her for help in love affairs. She is always ready to come to the aid of those who suffer from love persecution, as in the legend of Demeter and Persephone. She is ready to avenge women who have been abused, persecuted and wished to commit violence against them.

Images of the goddess

Hecate was one of the few Greek deities who were allowed to enter Hades. In this capacity she is Hecate Chthonia. That is why she was able to cause madness and nightmares, to terrify. The ancient Greeks called it “nameless,” just like death. The image of Hecate Urania suggests that she was both an underground and a heavenly goddess. The main hypostasis of the goddess, with which she has survived to this day, is witchcraft. In the works of Shakespeare you can find her name - the inspiration of all witches. She did not patronize black magic, but participated in all nightly activities. Hecate-Propylaea is the protector of young and helpless girls and women who want to regain their feminine happiness with the help of spells. In the fourth book of the Aeneid, the goddess Hecate is approached by the former lover of Aeneas, who abandoned her and drove the woman to suicide with his steps. Standing with a dagger in her hand, she calls out to Hecate and only then stabs herself with the blade. The unfortunate woman begs the goddess to avenge herself.

But for mystics, she was the guardian of the path of those people who are engaged in the occult sciences and are considered the chosen one. So, in the 6th book of the Aeneid, she appears as Sibylla’s teacher and gives her the power to wander through the labyrinth of Tartarus. In some sources, no matter how strange it may sound, the goddess of darkness Hecate is presented as the patroness of weddings and childbirth. This is evidenced by torches as an attribute of the goddess of childbirth. But the dagger in her hands is intended for cutting the umbilical cord of a newborn. If you remember, it was customary to install the statue of Hecate at crossroads; from this point of view, she is known in the image of the goddess of “limits”, where one thing ends and another begins. It could also be the place where the otherworldly ends and the thisworldly begins. In a word, she presented herself as the keeper of the “gate.”

Habits and Attributes

Hecate's most important habit was walking in the night with a pack of dogs with glowing red eyes, as well as with the souls of dead people. She, as a rule, wore sandals made of bronze, or rather leather, decorated with bronze blotches. It is believed that when dogs begin to whine and howl for no reason, they sense Hecate's approach. She is also accompanied by the demons of Kera.

Hecate had magical herbs in her arsenal, for example the aconite flower, about which there is a sad legend. Aconite grew near the city of Akon, next to which there was a cave with an entrance to Hades (hell). According to legend, this flower was regularly watered with the saliva of Cerberus. Aconite flowers are very poisonous, not only the stems and buds, but also the smell itself. Magic healers used plant juice as a remedy for taming sensual desire. It was used in rituals. The sign of the goddess Hecate was also coniferous branches entwined with ivy. They say that they were able to protect from troubles.

Goddess of the underworld hecate

Statue of Liberty - goddess of darkness Hecate

It turns out that the main symbol of the USA is none other than the ancient deity Hecate, created by the hands of a French freemason. The goddess Hecate, who was the mistress of hell, darkness, night visions and witchcraft, was depicted with a torch and horns-rays on her head.

The Greeks considered her the goddess of the underworld, but at the same time they believed that Hecate bestows wisdom, happiness in war, rich booty in hunting, etc. As the goddess of the underworld and hell, she was considered the goddess of the souls of the dead.

There is an assumption that the cult of Hecate also existed in Indian mythology under the name of the goddess Kali, in whose honor the era in which we now live is named - Kali-yuga (Sanskrit: कलियुग), “age of the demon Kali.”

Kali (Sanskrit: काली), “black” is a symbol of death and destruction. She is presented as one of the strongest gods in the world and the personification of absolute evil. The cult of the goddess Kali requires human sacrifices.

And now in more detail:

"Statue of Liberty - Goddess of Darkness"

Quite a lot is known about the influence of Freemasonry on the creation of the United States, from the founding fathers to the symbolism of the dollar. Pyramids, steles, all-seeing eye, etc. also decorate various government buildings in the United States.

However, about the most important symbol of the United States - the Statue of Liberty - as a rule, no connections are made with Freemasonry.

Let's look at the Wikipedia resource. It says: Statue of Liberty (full name - Liberty Enlightening the World) - one of the most famous sculptures in the USA and in the world, often called the “symbol of New York and the USA”, “symbol of freedom and democracy”, “Lady Liberty”. This is a gift from French citizens for the centennial of the American Revolution.

statue of liberty.jpg Let us turn to the history of the creation of the statue. Its author is none other than the French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. Before he became a sculptor, Bartholdi traveled for a long time in Egypt, and also served as an adjutant to Garibaldi during the Franco-Prussian War. However, the time of creation of the statue coincides with Bartholdi's entry into the Masonic lodge (Alsace-Lorraine branch) - it was 1875. The statue was installed and opened in New York 11 years later. By the way, the supporting structures were designed by none other than Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (Bonnickhausen), known for his adventure in embezzling huge funds for fictitious work during the construction of the Panama Canal, but became famous thanks to the ugly structure in the center of Paris. Eiffel was also a member of the Masonic lodge, and another lodge brother, who at that time served as Prime Minister of France (Freemasonry is above the law!), helped him get out of the Panama scam.

As for the statue, its description says that the “goddess of freedom” holds a torch in her right hand and a tablet in her left. The inscription on the tablet reads "JULY IV MDCCLXXVI", which indicates the date of the Declaration of Independence of the United States. In addition, on the head of the “goddess” there is a crown with seven rays, which symbolize the seven seas and seven continents. The statue itself has 356 steps to the crown or 192 steps to the top of the pedestal. The crown itself contains 25 windows, which symbolize earthly gems and heavenly rays that illuminate the world. The total height of the composition is 93 meters, including the base and pedestal, and the statue itself is 46 meters.

There are no analogies with the symbolism of secret societies and ancient religions. You can make a connection with the number seven, which the Masons and other secret societies were very fond of, and also analyze other numbers according to esoteric numerology, although the obvious suggests itself (however, Bartholdi’s model was the recently widowed Isabella Boyer, wife of Isaac Singer, and entrepreneur in the field of channel equipment and sewing machines, who acted as a sponsor and sponsor of the Jewish socialists together with Rothschild - ed.).

Some believe that since the statue depicts the goddess of freedom, it means that it is Libera, who was the deity of fertility in ancient Roman mythology and religion. She was often identified with the goddesses Proserpine or Ariadne and was the wife of Dionysus-Liber. Dionysus, in turn, is a late interpretation of the ancient Egyptian god Osiris, and therefore many authors saw Libera as the widow of Osiris and the mother of Horus.

However, a thoughtful reader may immediately discover some oddities - why is the goddess of freedom holding a torch in her hands? Why do you need a torch in broad daylight? And the mentioned goddesses were traditionally depicted differently.

But the goddess Hecate, who was the mistress of hell, darkness, night visions and witchcraft, was depicted with a torch and horns-rays on her head (according to legend, there were also snakes in her hair, like the Gorgon Medusa). By the way, it was believed that she was close to various goddesses of fertility in her chthonic functions.

Maybe this particular goddess was sculpted by a Masonic sculptor?

(Statues of Hecate with torches and swords were placed in front of houses in ancient times to “keep evil spirits at bay.” Hecate is associated with pagan spells and rituals. In ancient times, people tried to appease her by leaving chicken hearts and honeyed peppers at their doors. In On the last day of the month, gifts were brought to the crossroads - honey, onions, fish and eggs, with sacrifices in the form of dolls, baby girls and female lambs. B Sorcerers gathered at the crossroads to “pay respect” to her and such characters as “Empusa”. , brownie; “Kekropsis”, poltergeist; and “Mormo”, vampire. One occult appeal of the pagans to Hecate was recorded in the 3rd century by St. Hippolyte of Rome in his “Philosophumena” (the full title is “Philosophical Opinions or Denunciation of All Heresies”, which consists of 10 books; in the first four books, the author examines the opinions of Greek philosophers and the traditions of ancient pagan magic and astrology, which, in his opinion, were the sources of heresies in the Christian world; in five books, heretical teachings are considered, starting with the ancient ones and ending with the sects of the 2nd century. - Callistians and Elkazaites; the tenth book represents a reduction of the previous ones):

“Come, hellish, earthly and heavenly Bombo (Hecate), goddess of wide roads, crossroads, you who travel to and fro at night with a torch in your hand, enemy of the day. Friend and lover of darkness, you who rejoice when the bitches howl and warm blood flows, you who wander among ghosts and graves, you who satisfy the thirst for blood, you who cause fear in the mortal souls of children, Gorgo, Mormo, Luna, in a thousand forms, cast your merciful gaze on our sacrifice" (Russian translation, see "Orthodox Review" for 1871 Archpriest. Ivantsov-Platonov, "Heresies and schisms of the first three centuries of Christianity" / modern. Iz-vo Book House "LIBROCOM", 2011, Series: Academy of Basic Research: History).

It is characteristic that the work of Hippolytus of Rome itself became known only in 1841, when the Greek philologist Costantine Minoida Mina allegedly acquired part of a 14th-century manuscript from the Athos monastery for the French government. “Revelation”, which received the name “Parisian” according to the place of its further residence: Parisinus suppl. gr. 464 saec. XIV, bombicinus, truncus, foll. 1-132, 137, 133-136; 215x145 mm (textus: 160x105-115 mm, 23-28 versus), it was a partial copy of the Philosophumena, which was previously associated with Origen, but later the authorship was recognized as Hippolytus.

According to the Philosophumena, her power extended to the three-part temporal sphere - past, present and future. The goddess drew her witchcraft power from the moon, which has three phases - new, full and old. Like Artemis, she was accompanied everywhere by a pack of dogs, but Hecate's hunt is a night hunt among the dead, graves and ghosts of the underworld. They sacrificed food and dogs to Hecate; her attributes were a torch, a scourge and snakes.

Occultists found a correspondence to Hecate in Indian mythology - Kali - the goddess of time, destruction and transformation. The time period to which modernity belongs in Hinduism is called Kali Yuga, i.e. He is “patronized” by Kali (Hecate) - approx. ed.).

By the way, the traditional rivalry between France and England also left its mark on the history of the creation of the statue. France supported the efforts of American Freemasons to gain independence from Britain, with which it was then in conflict. Versailles clearly dreamed that London would cease to claim maritime dominion. Is it not because of this that the seas and continents are symbolically given over to the power of the goddess of darkness, who placed her feet behind the pillars of Hercules (and this is already a dollar sign)?

This is a brief history of the main symbol of the United States, which, in fact, has a rather sinister origin.

Hecate has survived more than one era: the cult of the goddess dates back to Ancient Sumer, where she was known as Ereshkigal - the great underground mistress. She was married to Nergal - the god of death, unjust war and the scorching sun. Ereshkigal competed with her younger sister Inanna, who was considered the patroness of love, harvest, fertility, luck and family life.

The developing pre-Hellenic civilization willingly adopted these beliefs, slightly modifying them. In particular, the Sumerian goddess received a new name - Hecate. She gained extraordinary popularity during the heyday of Ancient Greece, not inferior to the prevalence of her cult to the Olympians. Myths attribute different parents to Hecate. According to one version, the goddess was the daughter of Asteria and the titan Persus, according to another, she came from the union of Zeus with Hera or Demeter.

Also read: Hecate days in the lunar calendar

Hecate is the goddess of night, darkness, witchcraft, nightmares and moonlight. Patroness of witches, ruler of the underworld, responsible for poisonous plants and everything mysterious that exists in the world. Commands monsters, terrible creatures and restless spirits. Its time is the deep night of the new moon, when the old month has already disappeared and the new one has not yet had time to come into force. Among other things, Hecate is the goddess of roads and resides at crossroads along with the souls of the dead. Therefore, the ancient Greeks erected her altars not only in cities, but also at crossroads. Hecate did not have many personal temples, but she was invariably allocated a place in the sanctuaries of Hermes, Demeter, Persephone, Artemis and Cybele: the dark goddess there guarded the entrance to the gates of the Underworld. Hecate also guarded the mountain where the muses lived. The Roman Hecate took over the duties of her ancient Greek “colleague”, but began to be called by the name Trivia.

Hecate: goddess appearance

The cult of Hecate is so ancient that it is difficult to determine exactly what the goddess looked like according to people. She was portrayed in different ways. Most often she was seen as an eternally young girl and was described with the epithet Phosphoros - “bringer of light.” Hecate held two torches, with the help of which she illuminated hidden secrets. Her head was covered with a crown of stars, hinting at the origins of the goddess (one of her possible mothers, Asteria, was a star deity). According to another version, Hecate is three-faced. Sometimes she appeared to people in the form of three figures connected by their backs. On the famous statue of the 8th century. BC. the goddess is depicted with wings, and in her hands she holds a snake. Hecate's chariot moves under the control of dragons.

As the third aspect of the Moon, the goddess is the Crone, that is, the bearer of wisdom. Her three faces make it possible to correlate Hecate with the hellish dog Cerberus, who also guarded the entrance to the world of the dead. The triface of the goddess hints at her connection with other representatives of the highest pantheon. Selene-Hecate-Artemis is a classical trinity whose goddesses are sometimes considered one character. In Roman mythology, Selene and Artemis united to form Diana, and Hecate is traditionally considered the dark prototype of Artemis-Diana. The goddess can appear before the caller in completely different images: a naughty child, a young girl, a wise woman, a gloomy old woman. Depends on the purpose of the ritual.

Hecate: attributes of the goddess

The objects with which Hecate was depicted are determined by the type of her activity. As a rule, the goddess was “handed”:

1. The key is like the keeper of the entrance and exit.
2. The whip as a punishment for vices.
3. Dagger as the goddess of retribution and malevolence.
4. A torch as an inhabitant of the world of darkness.

Hecate's retinue was numerous. She was always accompanied by red-eyed dogs from the underworld; she walked around the world surrounded by three Strigas and a horde of dead spirits. The sacred animals of the goddess are owls and snakes, embodying the souls of the dead. Among the living, only dogs are able to see Hecate. They feel its approach and notify about it with their howl.

What is Hecate capable of in magic?

As the ruler of the Kingdom of the Dead, Hecate led souls to a new habitat, helping them to be reborn. The goddess also contributed to the transformation of the living, giving initiation to seekers during the mysteries. She is famous as “showing the way.” The power of the goddess is immeasurable, everyone fears her, while she is completely fearless.

Hecate is generous and gives her followers:

• military luck;
• wisdom;
• good catch on the hunt;
• clairvoyance;
• new magical knowledge;
• love of the chosen person;
• getting rid of damage and healing;
• youth;
• information about the future.

Hecate is the goddess of witches and comes to the aid of women, providing support during magical rituals. Traditionally, a dog was sacrificed to Hecate at the crossroads so that the animal would join the invisible retinue of the goddess.

Hecate: days of veneration of the great goddess and gifts brought to her

In Ancient Greece, ordinary people were afraid of Hecate and tried to appease her. To do this, chicken hearts or sweet cakes were left on the doorstep of the house. Although many homes had altars dedicated to the goddess, they did not risk inviting her inside. The last two and first two days of the month were considered to belong to Hecate. They asked for a rich harvest on August 13th. Gifts were brought to Y-shaped crossroads; Most often, eggs, honey, cakes, fish, and black lambs acted as offerings. There were three nights when it was recommended to carry out rituals in honor of the dark goddess:

1. Night of Hecate (from 16 to 17 November). At this time, the goddess helped to transform spiritually.
2. Change of Times (from April 30 to May 1). It was acceptable to ask for anything.
3. Feast of Great Sacrifice (from August 30 to September 1). The key night of the cult, when the priests appeased the goddess and asked her for mercy during the cold season.

Caves were considered the traditional place of worship for Hecate, but on the night of the Great Sacrifice it was necessary to carry out the ritual in a graveyard or on unplowed land where many people died. The caller had all the attributes: a dagger, a whip, a torch or lamp, a key. Animals included dogs and snakes. Stones (goethite and axinite) and plants (monkshood) played an important role. When calling on Hecate, the magician stood with his back to the place of her expected appearance. It was believed that demons and ghosts came from the western direction, which meant that the priest should look to the east. If the ritual did not require directly invoking the goddess, one could work while looking towards the west.

As a sacrifice, the goddess took blood, which was poured into the fire, onto stones, into a pit, into a grave, or onto the side of an abandoned road intersection. The source of blood was:

• black dog or puppy (preferred option);
• any other animal (if it is impossible to get a black dog);
• person (rare option).

Human blood did not require ritual killing: the master could make an incision in the skin and give a few drops of his own to the goddess. There is perhaps no more controversial goddess than Hecate: rituals in her honor frighten the uninitiated and delight true worshipers. But it is better for beginners to begin their acquaintance with the ruler of the Underworld under the guidance of an experienced practitioner. Self-inflicted bumps in communication with the dark goddess can be too painful.

In Greek mythology, a strong goddess who patronizes magic and sorcery.

Hecate has three meanings: goddess of fertility and abundance; moon goddess; and queen of the night, ghosts and shadows. As the Moon Goddess, she is often in alliance with Selene and Diana/Artemis - a triple Goddess. Hecate has devilish powers, she roams the Earth at night with a pack of hellish red-eyed dogs from hell and with a retinue of souls of the dead.

Only dogs can see her, and if dogs howl at night, it means Hecate is nearby. She causes nightmares and madness, and is so terrifying that many of the ancients called her only “The Nameless One.” She is the goddess of darkness on the Moon, the destroyer of life, but also the regenerator of life.

In one myth, she turns into a bear or wild boar and kills her own son, then revives him. Being a secret force, she wears a necklace of testicles, her hair is a writhing snake that turns to stone like the Gorgon Medusa.

Hecate - goddess of all crossroads

She looks in three directions at once. In ancient times, three-headed statues of her were placed at many intersections, and secret rituals were performed when the moon was full to propitiate her. Statues of Hecate with torches and swords were placed in front of houses to keep evil spirits at bay. As the goddess of all types of magic and witchcraft, Hecate was much more important in ancient times than the mythical sorceress Medea, who helped Jason steal the Golden Fleece and was sometimes said to be Hecate's daughter.

Hecate in modern witchcraft

In modern witchcraft, Hecate is often associated with the lunar trinity, the triple Goddess. She commands the waning and dark moon, during the two-week period, the best for magic; which deals with exile, liberation, schemes and introspection. She calls for justice

Goddess Hecate