Hekate

A goddess in Greek mythology. According to Hesiod's Theogony, she was the daughter of Asteria and Perses, which means she was the granddaughter of the Titans. However, even after Zeus defeated the Titans and became king of the gods, she was the only one who did not lose her previous privileges and was highly respected among the gods. It was said that she bestowed blessings in all areas, including wealth, eloquence, victory, fishing, livestock farming, and child rearing, on those who worshiped her. She also helped Demeter search for her daughter Persephone, who had been kidnapped underground, and was sometimes considered to be Demeter's daughter, so she has a strong connection with the underworld and is often identified with the goddess Artemis. In this way, while she brought wealth from the underworld to the surface, she was also the queen of the spirit world and the patron deity of magicians, and was believed to appear in a terrifying form at crossroads at night, carrying a torch and accompanied by a hellish dog. A three-faced statue was often enshrined at a three-way intersection, and on new moon days, rich people would offer "Hecate's evening meal," which also became food for the poor.

[Tetsuro Nakatsuka]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ギリシア神話の女神。ヘシオドスの『神統記』によれば、彼女はアステリアとペルセスの娘で、すなわちティタン神族の孫の代に属す。しかし、ゼウスがティタン神族を破って神々の王になってからも、彼女だけは従来の特権を奪われることなく、神々の間で高い尊敬を受けた。そして彼女に帰依する人間に対し、富、雄弁、勝利、漁獲、畜産、育児などのあらゆる面で恩恵を授けるとされた。また、地下にさらわれた娘ペルセフォネを探すデメテルに協力したり、ときにデメテルの娘とされるなど、地下界との結び付きも強く、女神アルテミスと同一視されることも多い。このように、彼女は地下の富を地上にもたらす反面、霊界の女王として魔法使いたちの守護神となり、松明(たいまつ)を手に地獄の犬を引き連れて、夜の辻(つじ)などに恐ろしい姿を現すと信じられた。しばしば三面像が三叉路(さんさろ)に祀(まつ)られ、新月の日には金持ちが「ヘカテの夕餉(ゆうげ)」を供えたが、それは貧しい人々の食ともなった。

［中務哲郎］

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