Hekate: a Symbol of the Dangers of Feminine Knowledge in Euripides

Abstract

Without looking at the Argonautica and later Roman portrayals of Hekate, such as Ovid and Seneca, I want to explore Hekate’s relationship with Greek tragedy. How does a goddess evolve so quickly from possessing a share of land, sea, and earth (Theogony) and becoming the attendant to Persephone (Homeric Hymn to Demeter) to the goddess of witchcraft (Argonautica) less than five hundred years later. I believe Medea’s reliance on Hekate for assistance navigating the liminal space between the feminine sphere of nature and the masculine sphere of culture in Euripides’ tragedy began Hekate’s transformation. After mentioning Hekate and Medea’s close relationship in Medea (431 BCE), Euripides consequent mentions of Hekate [Hippolytus (428 BCE), Troades (415 BCE), Helen (412 BCE), Phoenician Women (410 BCE)] bring certain connotations into each scene. I am exploring what those connotations might be and how Medea started it.