First appearing in very early writing in Hesiod's Theogony (c. 730–700 BCE) the Greek Goddess Hekate (Hecate) is a true witches' witch. As the Goddess of witchcraft, the dark, night, crossroads, magic and death, there were cults of witches all across Greece that worshipped her. (This cult Statuette of the Goddess found in Selinunte, Sicily is the oldest known) Her parentage is up for debate and none of the ancient writers can seem to agree on just whom her parents were. On the other hand, she is friends with the Furies and Demeter (some cults of Demeter assimilated Hekate as well). She is referred to as a protector of warriors, working men and travelers. She also would be placed in front of doors and was known as Goddess of doors to ward off evil. She was known as a Trivia (trivia, “three ways”) for being the protector of travelers and the ultimate three way. During the Gigantomachy she sided with the Olympian gods. Here she stands united with Artemis in battle while she slays the giant Clytius. (as Goddess of the Hell hounds I wonder if those are her pooches eating their kibbles and giants) Without further ado, fresh off my mail carriers truck, my Hekate! PHRYGIA.Apamea.Pseudo-autonomous.Time of the Severans (193-235). Ae. Obv : ΠAMЄIA. Turreted and draped bust of Tyche to right. Rev : CΩTЄIPA. Hekate triformis, holding torch in each hand. BMC 110-113. Condition : Nice green patina.Good very fine. Weight : 2.2 gr Diameter : 15 mm Purchased from Biga December 2021 Please post any Hekate related coins, Demeter, Severen provincial coins, dark and spooky things or anything you would like to...tri
This coin is said to depict "Selene-Hecate". The goddess isn't named; the identification must come from the torches. Does anyone know the story? I do not. LYDIA, Thyatira. Elagabalus, 218-222 AD, AE27. 9.10g Obv: ΑΝΤΩΝƐΙΝΟϹ; laureate and cuirassed bust of Elagabalus, r., seen from rear Rev: ΘΥΑΤƐΙΡΗΝΩΝ; Selene-Hecate advancing, r., looking back, wearing crescent on shoulders, holding torch in each hand, one upwards the other downwards. Ref: RPC VI 4310 (temp), BMC 118 var. ex-Economopoulos Numismatics (Nick) Rare. Four specimens with this inscription in RPC, plus 6 of 4328.
I am jealous of that one! It was on my Biga watchlist but I ended up bidding heavily on a couple of earlier lots. I shut down the computer before your lovely Hekate came up to keep from spending more. Wish I'd stuck around now! One of the coins I got in that auction will make this year's top 10. Trying to cobble together a post about it now and hope to have it up tomorrow.
Here's my example of the coin. These things are TINY! Severan period, AD 193-235. Semi-autonomous Æ 14. mm, 1.46 g, 6 h. Phrygia, Apameia. Obv: ΑΠΑ-ΜЄΙΑ, draped bust of Tyche of Apameia, right. Rev: CΩ-TЄI-PA, triple-bodied Hecate-Soteira standing facing, each wearing kalathos and holding torches. Refs: BMC 25.88,110-13; SNG von Aulock 3475; SNG München 131; Sear Gr. Imp. 5065.
Great coin Ed! Thanks for sharing "During Demeter's search for her daughter Persephone, Hecate helped by using her torches to light the goddess' journey through the night." *edit, I wonder if her looking back on your coin signifies her searching for Persephone or her looking back to Demeter as she guided her through the night?
Thank you twice! For the compliment and not sticking around Now I'm gonna be looking at that auction all over again trying to figure out what coin you got that's going to be in your top ten! Beauuuuuutiful example my friend And they really are small, deceptively so. When I poured mine into my hand I would have sworn it was no more than 12mm!
Hecate is one of the characters of one of my favorite TZ episodes, 'Of Late I Think of Cliffordville"...
@Ryro.....Lovely coin!....I've searched my collection and have no Demeter? How can that happen? Really struggling to hit your criterias but wanted to post something.. here's a "TRI" dent... Jayasimha ( legend variant ) 1128-1154/5 Copper Kaserah or Punchshi 18mm (6.31gr) Obverse- Goddess Ardochsho/Lakshmi seated Reverse- King facing, Holding trident in left hand.
Great coin, Ryro, reminding me that I still lack a one with Hekate Triformis. Here's one with Hekate Uniformis (or does the slight doubling make her a Duoformis?)... CARACALLA [with GETA] Medallic AE. 28.75g, 38mm. CARIA, STRATONICAEA, circa AD 209-211. Epitynchanontos, prytanis. SNG von Aulock –; SNG Copenhagen –; SNG München –; SNG Tübingen –; cf. CNG 100, lot 1728; for c/m: Howgego 84. O: [AV K M AVP] ANTΩ[NINOC C Λ CЄ ΓЄTA]C K, Confronted busts of [Geta – erased as result of damnatio memoriae] right and Caracalla left, both laureate, draped, and cuirassed; c/m: Bust of Caracalla right within incuse circle. R: ЄΠI ΠPV ЄΠITVNKANONTOC Γ ΦΙΛΩNOC CTPAT[ONIKЄΩN], Hecate standing facing, head left, sacrificing from patera [over altar] and holding torch.
Noice! I need to work on expanding my criteria. I often find myself doing the same thing though and expanding others criteria so I can add some fun. I really do love this coin type and the story behind it aaand need to expand my collection of...1:
Thanks! I really felt lucky to get mine (& more so, now that I know I almost bid against @TIF ) Man, wasn't Caracalla the Marty McFly of his generation: I really would like to know how that ancient TOTALLY ERASED, not crossed out or scratched up his face, but UTTERLY REMOVED Geta from your coin??? And the PIÈCE DE RÉSISTANCE isn't even that it's the countermark that was added Though not Damnit otio and in terrible condition, I do have a coin that would've made Carrot case Calla furious... him and his kid brother:
Nice writeup and wow coin, Dude! Great job. I am ceres about it ! This is all I got… AR DEMETER (Ceres) RI Titus 79-81 CE AR Denarius Ceres seated corn ear poppy torch
LOL, you're right, Geta was totally McFly'd on that one. He didn't always completely disappear though, and on some you can see that chisels were probably used to enact the deed partially: On the previous one, my theory would be that slaves were made to use their thumbs and rub over Geta's bust in continuous circular motions. After a few years, I think they would have worn down the Geta half enough to have achieved the full McFly effect. And if they had two hands, they would have been able to do two coins at once!
