Hecate Trivia
godAn epithet of Hecate as goddess of crossroads and three-way intersections, where offerings were left at night to appease her and the restless dead.
The Myth
Hecate Trivia — Trioditis in Greek, Trivia in Latin — governed the dangerous liminal spaces where three roads met. She was an ancient goddess, a Titan who retained her honours under Zeus after the Titanomachy. When Persephone was abducted by Hades, it was Hecate who heard her cries and later guided Demeter with torches to find her daughter. She became Persephone's companion in the Underworld, escorting souls between the realms of living and dead. At crossroads, Greeks placed three-faced images of Hecate called hekataion, and each month's deipna (suppers) were left at these junctions for the goddess and her retinue of ghosts and restless spirits. Her association with Medea, Circe, and all practitioners of magic made her the patron goddess of witchcraft, herbalism, and necromancy.
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Symbols
Fun Fact
The English word "trivial" comes directly from Hecate's Latin epithet Trivia (three roads). Something "trivial" was originally something found at crossroads — common, picked up anywhere. The goddess of witchcraft and the dead accidentally gave us our word for "unimportant," which is arguably the greatest demotion in etymological history.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
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Demeter
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Demeter Thesmophoros
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Zeus
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