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Hecate or Hekate (; Greek Ἑκάτη, ''Hekátē'') is a goddess in Greek religion and mythology, most often shown holding two torches or a key〔The Running Maiden from Eleusis and the Early Classical Image of Hekate by Charles M. Edwards in the American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 90, No. 3 (Jul., 1986), pp. 307–318〕 and in later periods depicted in triple form. She was variously associated with crossroads, entrance-ways, dogs, light, the moon, magic, witchcraft, knowledge of herbs and poisonous plants, ghosts, necromancy, and sorcery.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=HECATE : Greek goddess of witchcraft, ghosts & magic ; mythology ; pictures : HEKATE )〕〔d'Este, Sorita & Rankine, David, Hekate Liminal Rites, Avalonia, 2009.〕 In the post-Christian writings of the Chaldean Oracles (2nd–3rd century CE) she was regarded with (some) rulership over earth, sea and sky, as well as a more universal role as Saviour (Soteira), Mother of Angels and the Cosmic World Soul.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Bryn Mawr Classical Review 02.06.11 )〕〔Sarah Iles Johnston, Hekate Soteira, Scholars Press, 1990.〕 She was one of the main deities worshiped in Athenian households as a protective goddess and one who bestowed prosperity and daily blessings on the family.〔Encyclopedia Britannica, Hecate, http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/259138/Hecate〕 Hecate may have originated among the Carians of Anatolia, where variants of her name are found as names given to children. Hecate was also worshipped in the ancient city of Colchis. William Berg observes, "Since children are not called after spooks, it is safe to assume that Carian theophoric names involving ''hekat-'' refer to a major deity free from the dark and unsavoury ties to the underworld and to witchcraft associated with the Hecate of classical Athens."〔Berg 1974, p. 129.〕 She also closely parallels the Roman goddess Trivia, with whom she was identified in Rome. ==Name== The etymology of the name ''Hecate'' (Ἑκάτη, ''Hekátē'') is not known. Suggested derivations include: *From the Greek word for 'will'.〔At least in the case of Hesiod's use, see Clay lists a number of researchers who have advanced some variant of the association between Hecate's name and will (e.g. Walcot (1958), Neitzel (1975), Derossi (1975)). The researcher is led to identify "the name and function of Hecate as the one 'by whose will' prayers are accomplished and fulfilled." This interpretation also appears in Liddell-Scott, ''A Greek English Lexicon'', in the entry for Hecate, which is glossed as "lit. 'she who works her will'"〕 *From ''Ἑκατός'' ''Hekatos'', an obscure epithet of Apollo.〔 This has been translated as "she that operates from afar", "she that removes or drives off", "the far reaching one" or "the far-darter". *the name of the Egyptian goddess of childbirth, Heqet, has been compared. In Early Modern English, the name was also pronounced disyllabic and sometimes spelled ''Hecat''. It remained common practice in English to pronounce her name in two syllables, even when spelled with final ''e'', well into the 19th century. The spelling ''Hecat'' is due to Arthur Golding's 1567 translation of Ovid's ''Metamorphoses'', and this spelling without the final E later appears in plays of the Elizabethan-Jacobean period.〔Marlowe, Christopher (first published 1604; performed earlier). ''Doctor Faustus'', (Act III, Scene 2, line 21: ) "Pluto's blue fire and Hecat's tree". Shakespeare, William (c. 1594-96). ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'', (Act V, Scene 1, line 384: ) "By the triple Hecat's team". Shakespeare, William (c. 1603-07). ''Macbeth'', (Act III, Scene 5, line 1: ) "Why, how now, Hecat!" Jonson, Ben (c. 1637, printed 1641). (''The Sad Shepherd'', Act II, Scene 3, line 668: ) "our dame Hecat".〕 Noah Webster in 1866 particularly credits the influence of Shakespeare for the then-predominant disyllabic pronunciation of the name.〔 Cf. ''Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable'' (1894): ("Hec'ate (3 syl. in Greek, 2 in Eng.)" )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Hecate」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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