What do you think?
Rate this book
Circle for Hekate - Volume 1: History & Mythology
In Volume I, Circle for Hekate: History & Mythology, the author draws together scholarly research from a wide range of sources, highlighting the manifold and universal nature of this extraordinary goddess. The book serves as a comprehensive introduction to her many myths and legends, viewed through the Divine Ancestry attributed to her in Hesiod’s Theogony (800-700BCE), as well as an exploration of her conflation with other goddesses, archaeology, literature, and iconography.
Hekate’s worship was never limited to one geographical region. Her presence was well attested in Greece and Turkey, as well as Egypt, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Russia, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Sicily and Southern Italy. She has possible links to Minoan Crete, her most famous temple stood in Lagina, and she was a popular goddess in ancient Athens. Her history reveals many fascinating stories: how Hekate Phosphoros saved ancient Byzantium from an invasion by Phillip II of Macedonia (father of Alexander the Great); and how a visit to her temple in Ephesus influenced Julian the Apostate, the last Pagan Emperor of Rome.
Hekate was connected to Artemis, Demeter, Persephone, Isis, Diana, Despoina and other significant goddesses, appearing in single-and triple-bodied forms, as well as theriocephalic emanations with the heads of various animals. She shared the symbols of the torch, whip, snake and dagger with the Erinyes, and wielded the key to the Mysteries, wearing variously the modius, polos, kalathos and Phrygian cap. She shared paeans with Dionysos, stood with Hermes at the throne of the Phrygian Kybele, and sat next to Zeus in the cult of the Empty Throne. Far from being an obscure goddess, her torches illuminated the Mysteries at Eleusis, Samothrace, Aegina and Ephesus, leading the way for initiates.
Suitable for reading as a standalone text by those fascinated in the history and myths related to Hekate, Circle for Hekate- Volume I : History & Mythology also serves as background reading for those wishing to pursue a more practical understanding of the goddess, providing a clear contextual foundation for practice. Subsequent volumes in this series build upon the foundation provided in this first book to include devotional rites, meditations, contemplations and charms, giving readers the opportunity to develop their own personal understandings and relationships with this goddess.
The Circle for Hekate project is a series of books dedicated to the light-bearing Goddess of the crossroads in all her many faces, manifestations, and names.
Hekate’s worship was never limited to one geographical region. Her presence was well attested in Greece and Turkey, as well as Egypt, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Russia, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Sicily and Southern Italy. She has possible links to Minoan Crete, her most famous temple stood in Lagina, and she was a popular goddess in ancient Athens. Her history reveals many fascinating stories: how Hekate Phosphoros saved ancient Byzantium from an invasion by Phillip II of Macedonia (father of Alexander the Great); and how a visit to her temple in Ephesus influenced Julian the Apostate, the last Pagan Emperor of Rome.
Hekate was connected to Artemis, Demeter, Persephone, Isis, Diana, Despoina and other significant goddesses, appearing in single-and triple-bodied forms, as well as theriocephalic emanations with the heads of various animals. She shared the symbols of the torch, whip, snake and dagger with the Erinyes, and wielded the key to the Mysteries, wearing variously the modius, polos, kalathos and Phrygian cap. She shared paeans with Dionysos, stood with Hermes at the throne of the Phrygian Kybele, and sat next to Zeus in the cult of the Empty Throne. Far from being an obscure goddess, her torches illuminated the Mysteries at Eleusis, Samothrace, Aegina and Ephesus, leading the way for initiates.
Suitable for reading as a standalone text by those fascinated in the history and myths related to Hekate, Circle for Hekate- Volume I : History & Mythology also serves as background reading for those wishing to pursue a more practical understanding of the goddess, providing a clear contextual foundation for practice. Subsequent volumes in this series build upon the foundation provided in this first book to include devotional rites, meditations, contemplations and charms, giving readers the opportunity to develop their own personal understandings and relationships with this goddess.
The Circle for Hekate project is a series of books dedicated to the light-bearing Goddess of the crossroads in all her many faces, manifestations, and names.
267 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2017
438 people are currently reading
807 people want to read
About the author
Sorita d'Este
26 books265 followersSorita d’Este is an author, researcher and priestess who has devoted her life to the Mysteries. She is the author of around 20 books exploring subjects related to the practice and history of magic, mythology, religion, folklore and witchcraft. Her previous books include titles such as Hekate Liminal Rites, Practical Elemental Magick, Visions of the Cailleach, Wicca: Magickal Beginnings and The Isles of the Many Gods. Her latest release is Circle For Hekate: Vol I. She lives on a hill in Glastonbury (Somerset, UK) from where she works as a publisher and writer. She is frequently distracted from her work by her love of gardening, exciting visitors and the promise of interesting esoteric knowledge.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
December 28, 2017
Circle for Hekate – Volume 1: History and Mythology, is, as the name implies, all about the history and mythology of Hekate. It has some crossovers with Sorita D’estes previous book, Liminal Rites, because any book that discusses the history and mythology of a deity will inevitably contain information from other books on the same subject.
But it also has a wealth of new information. I was pleased and not actually all that surprised by how much new information I found within those pages. Pleased because new information about Hekate is always awesome, and not surprised because Sorita is, in my opinion, one of the worlds foremost experts on Hekate today.
I would say that there would be something new and of interest to pretty much every Hekatean in this book, no matter your particular interests in Her. There will be something there for you. Because Sorita delves into as many aspects of Hekate as possible, as many symbols, as many syncretisations and conflations, as many lines of history, anthropology, literature, arts, carvings, curse tablets etc as she possibly can – while also still keeping the book easy to read and accessible to everyone.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in Hekate, and indeed anyone who is interested in learning more about ancient Hellenism – because this is not only full of information about Hekate, but also about Hellenism as it connects to Hekate, Artemis, Selene, Demeter, Persephone and more.
I truly believe this is an essential book for every Hekatean bookshelf (but I think that of all of Soritas Hekate books) and I cannot wait for the next instalment to be released.
This is an extract from my blog review of Circle for Hekate.
But it also has a wealth of new information. I was pleased and not actually all that surprised by how much new information I found within those pages. Pleased because new information about Hekate is always awesome, and not surprised because Sorita is, in my opinion, one of the worlds foremost experts on Hekate today.
I would say that there would be something new and of interest to pretty much every Hekatean in this book, no matter your particular interests in Her. There will be something there for you. Because Sorita delves into as many aspects of Hekate as possible, as many symbols, as many syncretisations and conflations, as many lines of history, anthropology, literature, arts, carvings, curse tablets etc as she possibly can – while also still keeping the book easy to read and accessible to everyone.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in Hekate, and indeed anyone who is interested in learning more about ancient Hellenism – because this is not only full of information about Hekate, but also about Hellenism as it connects to Hekate, Artemis, Selene, Demeter, Persephone and more.
I truly believe this is an essential book for every Hekatean bookshelf (but I think that of all of Soritas Hekate books) and I cannot wait for the next instalment to be released.
This is an extract from my blog review of Circle for Hekate.
March 3, 2019
This book is absolutely best book for anyone seriously interested in Hekate. It covers Her fro Her unknown origins as She wanders all over the world. Learn Her symbols, epithets - this is where to begin!
August 31, 2020
I wanted to find more about the goddess Hecate for a fictional novel I'm working on. I'd seen this recommended and ordered a copy. It is a brilliant resource. I now know more about the history, myths and associations with Hecate than I should ever need. d'Este's style is easy to follow without much prior knowledge and the book is full of illustrations.
November 16, 2019
Pretty much everything you would want to know about Hekate from antiquity in an easily digestible, scholarly, and well informed book. This book is more of a comprehensive history book surrounding Hekate, so if you're looking for magic and rituals I'd suggest looking elsewhere.
April 15, 2025
Definitely one of the best books on Hekate out there; it doesn't delve too deep into any specific focus on her, but is rather a really broad overview of what she's about, the other goddesses and gods that influenced her cult, her Eastern origins/influences, and how she's evolved through the centuries. Hekate is a complex goddess that was revered as a Great Mother figure, demonized as the mother of evil, and lifted up to be the Mother of God at times. She has high highs and low lows in public perception and this book does a great job going over as much of that as it can, including addressing the controversial Maiden Mother Crone thing.
I don't think there's any real downsides to this book unless you're looking for something highly specific about Hekate. Some of the topics covered also include her sacred symbolism, her roles at specific places like Eleusis, Delphi, or Samothrace, her frequent syncretism with Artemis and Selene, as well as lesser known ones to a modern audience like Isis, Hera, Aphrodite, Sekhmet, and Cybele, and her cult pairings with Dionysus, Apollo, and Zeus.
If any of that is interesting to you, this is a good place to start and has an extensive Further Reading section in the back to help you find more books.
I don't think there's any real downsides to this book unless you're looking for something highly specific about Hekate. Some of the topics covered also include her sacred symbolism, her roles at specific places like Eleusis, Delphi, or Samothrace, her frequent syncretism with Artemis and Selene, as well as lesser known ones to a modern audience like Isis, Hera, Aphrodite, Sekhmet, and Cybele, and her cult pairings with Dionysus, Apollo, and Zeus.
If any of that is interesting to you, this is a good place to start and has an extensive Further Reading section in the back to help you find more books.
May 26, 2021
A well organised introduction to the history of Hekate. It serves as a good introductory book for those unfamilair with Hekate.
January 25, 2018
Sorita D’Este has to be the foremost practitioner / devotee to Hecate. Not only is she a priest to the goddess but she has also done more than ample research. What follows is an excellent book that give the reader a good solid over view of Hecate throughout her long history. If you are interested in learning about this goddess then this is a book you would do well to delve into.
The first chapter of the book deals with the family and lineage of Hecate. Her father was Perseus and her Mother was Asteria. Her grandfather was the sun god Helios. Among her cousins are Apollo and Artemis, their mother Leto was Asteria’s sister. Leto was hunted by Hera and a large python because Zeuss seduced her or attacked her. Asteria in the meantime turned herself into an island. Hera, as a reward to Asteria for avoiding Zeuss’s pleasure snares was able to give her sister some rest on the island of Ortygia which is located near Sicily.
As Hecate’s cult expanded throughout the Greco Roman world she tended to absorb other goddesses and become conflated with them. Some o the goddeses she was conflated with are Demeter and Persephone, Artemis, Isis, Ereshkigal and Ishtar. Sometimes they are named as a double name like Hecate-Isis other times they are mentioned separately. It seems she absorbed or was conflated wit other Goddesses such as Bendis, Kybelle, Selene and a few others. With tis she absorbed their symbols, jobs and functions.
It is rather hard to pinpoint where the worship of Hecate originated. After all she was a titan who sided with Zeuss against Kronos. She helped beat off some monsters with her torches and for that she was allowed to keep her domain as a goddess of the earth air land and sea. She was worshipped widely over the entire Greco-Roman world. Evidence of her sanctuaries and worship can be found in modern day Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Jordan Valley, Syria, Egypt and parts of Italy. Certain places have her worshipped alone or paired up with Zeuss, Dionysus, Hermes and Pan.
Hecate is a liminal goddess which means she occupies those spaces in between like twilight, realms between death an life and passage ways. One of Hecate’s symbols is the key. Keys open doors and allow passage. Her shrine was at the entry way to shrines and houses. She was also an underworld goddess who escorted the dead, provided they had a proper funeral to the underworld. Those who died a violent death, suicide etc belonged to Hecate and became one of her ghosts. Black dogs were often associated with her as were bulls, cows, dogs. Staffs and snakes were associated with her as well as different head gear.
In her beginning years she started out as a solar goddess but now as time slips by she is associated with the moon. In the beginning she was a mother goddess and a maiden goddess. Thanks to Crowley and Robert Grave the krone epithet got added on. There are more volumes coming up. Keep your eyes open.
The first chapter of the book deals with the family and lineage of Hecate. Her father was Perseus and her Mother was Asteria. Her grandfather was the sun god Helios. Among her cousins are Apollo and Artemis, their mother Leto was Asteria’s sister. Leto was hunted by Hera and a large python because Zeuss seduced her or attacked her. Asteria in the meantime turned herself into an island. Hera, as a reward to Asteria for avoiding Zeuss’s pleasure snares was able to give her sister some rest on the island of Ortygia which is located near Sicily.
As Hecate’s cult expanded throughout the Greco Roman world she tended to absorb other goddesses and become conflated with them. Some o the goddeses she was conflated with are Demeter and Persephone, Artemis, Isis, Ereshkigal and Ishtar. Sometimes they are named as a double name like Hecate-Isis other times they are mentioned separately. It seems she absorbed or was conflated wit other Goddesses such as Bendis, Kybelle, Selene and a few others. With tis she absorbed their symbols, jobs and functions.
It is rather hard to pinpoint where the worship of Hecate originated. After all she was a titan who sided with Zeuss against Kronos. She helped beat off some monsters with her torches and for that she was allowed to keep her domain as a goddess of the earth air land and sea. She was worshipped widely over the entire Greco-Roman world. Evidence of her sanctuaries and worship can be found in modern day Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Jordan Valley, Syria, Egypt and parts of Italy. Certain places have her worshipped alone or paired up with Zeuss, Dionysus, Hermes and Pan.
Hecate is a liminal goddess which means she occupies those spaces in between like twilight, realms between death an life and passage ways. One of Hecate’s symbols is the key. Keys open doors and allow passage. Her shrine was at the entry way to shrines and houses. She was also an underworld goddess who escorted the dead, provided they had a proper funeral to the underworld. Those who died a violent death, suicide etc belonged to Hecate and became one of her ghosts. Black dogs were often associated with her as were bulls, cows, dogs. Staffs and snakes were associated with her as well as different head gear.
In her beginning years she started out as a solar goddess but now as time slips by she is associated with the moon. In the beginning she was a mother goddess and a maiden goddess. Thanks to Crowley and Robert Grave the krone epithet got added on. There are more volumes coming up. Keep your eyes open.
March 10, 2025
This book is THE ONE when you want to go deeper with Hekate and want to learn about her history, symbols aso.
It's very well researched and I would recommend it to everyone working with Hekate.
It's very well researched and I would recommend it to everyone working with Hekate.
June 19, 2024
The theme of the historical "true" nature of Hekate was lost in all the machinations of the philosphers of the the classical age. It seems that changes to Hekate's nature were readily accepted in the classical age, then our modern day reverence of classical age led to a blind acceptance too.
Hekate's nature has been further muddled by efforts to reclaim the feminine by women from the pen and paper of patriarchy. The impetus was correct but it was often done without scholaticism. This has all resulted in Hekate's second string, sidelined position. This is the low point.
This book brings a degree of scholasticism to the study of Hekate within a broad survey of Hekate and related goddesses. Yet, here I felt that some attributes which belong to Astarte/Ishstar/Isis and Kybeleya/Kybele were misattributed to Hekate.
I find that my bias sits with Sarah Iles Johnston's work, Hekate Soteira: A Study of Hekate's Roles in the Chaldean Oracles and Related Literature. I recognize that Hekate of the Chaldean Oracles to be the orignal and thus true Hekate, where she served humanity be being a bridge to the divine, a savior of her era.
Hekate's nature has been further muddled by efforts to reclaim the feminine by women from the pen and paper of patriarchy. The impetus was correct but it was often done without scholaticism. This has all resulted in Hekate's second string, sidelined position. This is the low point.
This book brings a degree of scholasticism to the study of Hekate within a broad survey of Hekate and related goddesses. Yet, here I felt that some attributes which belong to Astarte/Ishstar/Isis and Kybeleya/Kybele were misattributed to Hekate.
I find that my bias sits with Sarah Iles Johnston's work, Hekate Soteira: A Study of Hekate's Roles in the Chaldean Oracles and Related Literature. I recognize that Hekate of the Chaldean Oracles to be the orignal and thus true Hekate, where she served humanity be being a bridge to the divine, a savior of her era.
October 25, 2025
★★★★★ stars !
this book was absolutely amazing. It is very broad and covers a lot about Hekate, her origins. her associations with other god and goddesses, Ancient worship and Hellenism, her epithets, associations and more. This is a really phenomenal book for anyone who is really interested in worshipping Hekate. Its very scholarly in my opinion, and I will definitely have to re-read this as it was hard to follow at times. So happy to have read this, blessings to Sorita d’Este!
this book was absolutely amazing. It is very broad and covers a lot about Hekate, her origins. her associations with other god and goddesses, Ancient worship and Hellenism, her epithets, associations and more. This is a really phenomenal book for anyone who is really interested in worshipping Hekate. Its very scholarly in my opinion, and I will definitely have to re-read this as it was hard to follow at times. So happy to have read this, blessings to Sorita d’Este!
August 18, 2022
This book is written by a modern devotee of Hekate, not a scholar, and unfortunately it shows. D’Este has assiduously collected information about Hekate but lacks the depth of knowledge to achieve a decent synthesis, to provide insight into what all her recorded names, rites, images, etc., *mean*, although she does try.
A major flaw is that d’Este clearly lacks the most basic background knowledge about ancient Greece. She refers repeatedly to “the Greek Empire,” which positively never existed. (Greeks had a strong conception of Greece as a cultural/linguistic entity, but politically it remained a collection of separate city-states.) She asserts that ancient Greece was much larger than what is considered Greece today. Wrong; what the ancients considered Hellas/Graecia is essentially what we still consider Greece today. (She may be confused by Magna Graecia, which comprised areas that became ethnically Greek for a while due to various major cities sending colonists to other parts of the Mediterranean, although she never uses the term). That’s just a few of her fundamental mistakes.
Wiccans would likely find this book valuable as a compendium of facts about a particular goddess, but anyone seeking greater understanding of the shape of ancient thought could use their time better than to read this book.
A major flaw is that d’Este clearly lacks the most basic background knowledge about ancient Greece. She refers repeatedly to “the Greek Empire,” which positively never existed. (Greeks had a strong conception of Greece as a cultural/linguistic entity, but politically it remained a collection of separate city-states.) She asserts that ancient Greece was much larger than what is considered Greece today. Wrong; what the ancients considered Hellas/Graecia is essentially what we still consider Greece today. (She may be confused by Magna Graecia, which comprised areas that became ethnically Greek for a while due to various major cities sending colonists to other parts of the Mediterranean, although she never uses the term). That’s just a few of her fundamental mistakes.
Wiccans would likely find this book valuable as a compendium of facts about a particular goddess, but anyone seeking greater understanding of the shape of ancient thought could use their time better than to read this book.
November 18, 2023
Sorita D'Este holds a prominent position among devotees of Hekate, and her latest work on the Goddess not only adds to her impressive body of writing but stands out as an unparalleled resource on Hekate. In my view, it surpasses not only the author's previous works but also claims the title of the most accessible book on the goddess Hekate to date. D'Este, a skilled writer, seamlessly blends scholarly insights with an easily digestible writing style. Her adept handling of the rich source material makes this book an invaluable guide for both practitioners and budding students of ancient history.
The book boasts a well-conceived structure and maintains a commendable pace throughout. However, a minor critique would be that at times, the reader may sense a deliberate withholding of information, possibly to reserve material for a second volume.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone intrigued by the history of the goddess Hekate and, especially, to those who continue to invoke her in our contemporary world. Beyond scholarly tomes, this stands as the go-to resource for delving into the intricate nature of Hekate, providing an excellent starting point for comprehension.
The book boasts a well-conceived structure and maintains a commendable pace throughout. However, a minor critique would be that at times, the reader may sense a deliberate withholding of information, possibly to reserve material for a second volume.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone intrigued by the history of the goddess Hekate and, especially, to those who continue to invoke her in our contemporary world. Beyond scholarly tomes, this stands as the go-to resource for delving into the intricate nature of Hekate, providing an excellent starting point for comprehension.
October 17, 2018
My love of Greek mythology throughout my childhood was what initially drew me to Paganism in my childhood and early teens. Although I have practiced primarily as an agnostic-atheist Witch, I have felt particularly drawn toward Hekate as of late and this was the first book I picked up about Her. It was exceptionally well cited, I could tell that years of research and dedication went into this work. I learned so much and the information was presented in an easy to follow manner. I cannot wait to dive deeper and learn as much as I can, however, I feel that this work is definitely an exceptional starting point and likely one of the best resources for anyone interested in learning about Hekate. This book is highly recommended and I will definitely be checking out the rest of the author's works.
August 5, 2019
A brilliant book!
Sorita is one of my favourite authors when it comes to Hekate and I knew this book would not disappoint! This is a book I believe is essential in any practitioner's library because it is such a wonderful resource, especially for learning more about Hekate. Everything is easily explained, always with the quotes and sources mentioned and an analysis from Sorita, which I always love. Can't wait to buy this book in physical format so I can add it to my bookshelves. It is a must!
Sorita is one of my favourite authors when it comes to Hekate and I knew this book would not disappoint! This is a book I believe is essential in any practitioner's library because it is such a wonderful resource, especially for learning more about Hekate. Everything is easily explained, always with the quotes and sources mentioned and an analysis from Sorita, which I always love. Can't wait to buy this book in physical format so I can add it to my bookshelves. It is a must!
July 28, 2018
Wonderful & insightful view to Hekate
This is the first book I've read with Kindle Unlimited that I want to own. Its well written and organized in an order that not only makes sense but is easy to follow. It uses many primary and secondary sources and she brings them together so its not just a bunch of dots. She draws the lines between them into a beautiful picture of the goddess Hekate.
This is the first book I've read with Kindle Unlimited that I want to own. Its well written and organized in an order that not only makes sense but is easy to follow. It uses many primary and secondary sources and she brings them together so its not just a bunch of dots. She draws the lines between them into a beautiful picture of the goddess Hekate.
April 30, 2020
Excellently researched
With footnotes, images and full bibliography, this is a well researched volume, and not just another “spell book.” Highly recommend for anyone wishing to know about Hekate, especially in a historical context. I look forward to the next volumes. You’ll be inspired towards your own interpretations.
With footnotes, images and full bibliography, this is a well researched volume, and not just another “spell book.” Highly recommend for anyone wishing to know about Hekate, especially in a historical context. I look forward to the next volumes. You’ll be inspired towards your own interpretations.
December 13, 2020
An excellent anthology and thorough work on the most popular Goddess in the modern Wiccan/Neopagan/Pagan reconstructionist movement. Not only is this an easy read for both experienced Neopagans and those exploring New Age spirituality, it can be enjoyed by those who simply love Greek Mythology as well!! A MUST READ for everyone modern witch/pagan!
June 19, 2023
I am hypercritical about my pagan read ratings but this book is excellent! It is informative and easy to read. This book is now an instant recommendation for books about Hekate. She mentions Volumes II and III to come and I really hope she can get them printed soon because I can't wait to read them.
If you want a concise and easy to read book about the Goddess Hekate this is the book to read.
If you want a concise and easy to read book about the Goddess Hekate this is the book to read.
September 6, 2020
Invaluable resource
Thoroughly researched and yet entirely accessible look into the historical depictions and veneration of Hekate. It's an invaluable resource for any Hecatean devotee, or simply anyone interested in this fascinating goddess/Titan of liminality.
Thoroughly researched and yet entirely accessible look into the historical depictions and veneration of Hekate. It's an invaluable resource for any Hecatean devotee, or simply anyone interested in this fascinating goddess/Titan of liminality.
August 13, 2021
Absolutely amazing read. Sorita is thorough in her research, everything is referenced and she has a wonderful writing style. A must book for anyone who wants to know more about Hekate... I hope the following books are published soon!
August 29, 2023
Very very impressed with this book. It should be considered required reading for people interested in magick, liminality, moon deities, and even Hekate in general. Very impressed and I will be recommending it.
September 6, 2020
An amazing book with clear narration and great info. Nothing less than expected from Sorita.
July 25, 2021
Very complete introduction on the goddess based on what is know in history and archaeology. Lots of references that allow you to branch out and read more based on what is your area of interest.
August 1, 2022
I loved this book. It was informative. It even has an index and notes.
February 17, 2023
Wonderful book!
February 8, 2024
Excellent background on the ancient literature, beliefs, and background on Hekate.
April 10, 2024
Incroyable
toujours envie et besoin d’en apprendre plus sur la magnifique Hecate <3
toujours envie et besoin d’en apprendre plus sur la magnifique Hecate <3
April 22, 2024
I think anyone who enjoys mythology and or Hekate will like this book.I was impressed with the amount of new information I obtained by reading this book.
December 23, 2025
Interesting and thorough. My only issue is that the kindle app formatting for Greek translations in the text had editing issues.
September 25, 2021
Thorough, Answers Many Questions Other Books Do Not, Well-Researched
D'Este has done it again, producing a delightfully readable academic text that answered every question I had about Hecate, her places of worship, her lineage and relationship to other Gods (particularly the Olympians), and when she was most popular in history. Unfortunately, we don't have as much information, particularly from the Bronze Age and earlier, but I appreciated that D'Este was honest about what was unknown, and presented the research transparently.
This book was exceedingly well-researched, with over 400 footnotes and dozens of sources, and most impressively, she actually visited the locations of temples around the world. I also appreciated how many pictures she included, too often writers describe without showing, and mentioning statues makes it you want to see them! I love that she included pictures. It is the last book you'll need on Hecate from a historical perspective, but it will make you want to read the source texts!
D'Este has done it again, producing a delightfully readable academic text that answered every question I had about Hecate, her places of worship, her lineage and relationship to other Gods (particularly the Olympians), and when she was most popular in history. Unfortunately, we don't have as much information, particularly from the Bronze Age and earlier, but I appreciated that D'Este was honest about what was unknown, and presented the research transparently.
This book was exceedingly well-researched, with over 400 footnotes and dozens of sources, and most impressively, she actually visited the locations of temples around the world. I also appreciated how many pictures she included, too often writers describe without showing, and mentioning statues makes it you want to see them! I love that she included pictures. It is the last book you'll need on Hecate from a historical perspective, but it will make you want to read the source texts!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews