Hecate
Hecate: A mysterious divinity, probably a moon goddess (or as some think, an earth goddess) commonly represented as a daughter of Persaeus or
Perses, and hence called Perseis. She was one of the Titans, and the only one of this race, who retained her power under the rule of Zeus. The extensive
power possessed by her was probably the reason that she was subsequently identified with Selene or Luna in heaven,Artemis or Diana on the earth
and Persephone or Proserpina in the lower world. In keeping with her theeefold role, she is described
with three bodies or three heads. Hence her epithets tergemina, triformis, triceps etc. She took part
in the search after Proserpins, and when the latter was found remained with her as her attendant and
companion. She thus became deity of the lower world, from where she sent at night demons and phantoms. She taught sorcery and witchcraft and
dwelt at places, where two roads crossed, on tombs and near the blood of murdered persons. She herself wandered about with the souls of the dead and her approach was announced by the whining and the howling of dogs. At Athens, at the close of every month, dishes with food were set out for
her at the points, where two roads crossed and this food was consumed by poor people. The sacrifices
offered to her consisted of dogs, honey, and black female lambs.
In the Indo-Greek coinage, the appearance of Hecate is rare. The three headed divinity held by
Zeus on his palm, appears only on one type each of Pantaleon and Agathocles. Dr. Tarn opines thatshe was Hecate of the Three Ways. Trioditis, who
was worshipped at a place where three roads met.
It appears, this mysterious goddess was later identified by the Indo-Greeks with Nike, who on their coins so often figures on the palm of Zeus, even as
she got mixed up with many other goddesses in Greece itself.
