Oct 23, 2017
As a Hekatean the appearance of keys, particularly crossed keys, in my altar paraphernalia is an absolute necessity. Keys are laden with magical correspondences which perfectly resonate with Hekate…
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As a Hekatean the appearance of keys, particularly crossed keys, in my altar paraphernalia is an absolute necessity. Keys are laden with magical correspondences which perfectly resonate with Hekate…
Love this!
Obscure Gods: Aiakos
If I do, then may the very Erinyes of tragedy persecute me and may Aeacus convict me at the assize in hell, and may one among Tityus’ vultures range to be my punishment, and then may I carry rocks, enduring the toil of borne by Sisyphus. - Propertius, Elegies 2.20, trans. Goold, via theoi.com
Aiakos was the most religious of all men… and Aiakos, even after death, is honored in the company of Plouton, and has charge of the keys of Haides’ realm - Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 3.159, trans. Aldrich, via theoi.com
Aiakos is one of the Judges of the Dead and his purview is over the fates of men from Europe, according to Plato. It is He who bears the Keys for Aides himself. As a chthonic being, He lives in the House of Aides, and is known as Kleidouchos (Keybearer), Pyloros (Gatekeeper), and Pylartes (He who keeps the Gates of Haides). His likeness is on a tomb in Lefkadia. He is most often seen as a bearded old man, enthroned or leaning on a staff. Plato describes him as naked when judging the fates of men.
Aiakos’ cultus is centered in Aigina, according to the literature, but there are no images of him that have survived on the island. He is the mortal son of Zeus and the Nymph Aigina. Elsewhere he is the child of Zeus and Europa. The Scholion to Pindar’s Nemean refers to his sanctuary as a Heroon, and mentions his children as being heroic themselves. The sanctuary has a low altar, as well as his grave, the location of which was kept secret. Pausanias also visited the Aiakeion, which he described as having architectural reliefs. We know of no surviving ikons of Aiakos in his sanctuary, though there are surviving accounts of statues travelling with armies in times of strife. Herodotus shares two occasions when Aiakos and his children were summoned for the purpose of victory in the war between Thebes and Athens.
Oddly, in spite of his divine origin, he is not described as a god. And in spite of being heroic, and the father of heroes, he is not called a heros theos explicitly. And if he was a hero, traditionally, his tomb would have been celebrated, not kept secret.
As a son of Zeus, there are stories of his role as a just and pious ruler of Aigina, and father of the Aiakids, which includes Peleus and Telamon, Achilles and Ajax, and Neoptolemos. Aiakos is known for his wisdom according to Pindar. And yet he is featured in Aristophanes’ Frogs as incapable of recognizing Dionysos, and doing various comical deeds to judge the God of Liberty (disguised as Herakles) and his attendant, Xanthias.
It is told that Aigina was suffering from a drought, and Aiakos prayed to Zeus to save them, and when the King of the Gods answered the prayer, King Aiakos established a sanctuary of Zeus on the island.
He has two brothers, Minos, and Rhadamanthys, who are also Judges of the Dead, and sometimes the three preside together. Elsewhere Aiakos is not shown, and only his brothers judge the dead. As with all things in this topic, the beliefs vary depending on where and when we are searching.
Perhaps Aiakos began as a mythical King of Aigina, grand in his history, and heroic in his deeds. Upon his death, he ascended to become the Judge of the Dead, as described by Plato. Who knows which came first, the Hero or the Chthonic God?
When the time comes, I pray that the Judges are kind in their determination upon my life.
Sources:
Theoi.com
Aristophanes. The Frogs, Hackett Pub. 2015.
Polinskaya, Irene. A Local History of Greek Polytheism: Gods, People and the Land of Aigina, Brill, 2013.
Images:
Red figure volute krater with scene of the Underworld with Hades, Persephone, and Hermes in the palace and the Danaides below, 325-300 BCE, follower of the Baltimore Painter, southern Italy, now in the Hermitage. Photo by Wmpearl, 2014. Via wikicommons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red_figure_volute_krater_with_scene_of_the_Underworld,_follower_of_the_Baltimore_Painter,_Hermitage.JPG#/media/File:Red_figure_volute_krater_with_scene_of_the_Underworld,_follower_of_the_Baltimore_Painter,_Hermitage.JPG
The powerful symbolism of Hekate as the Keeper of the Keys offers many magical uses. Hekate's Nine Keys ritual can be used as an evocation, a general working expressing gratitude to Hekate or adapted into a spell petitioning her.
I love witches’ ladders.
30 Days of Hekatean Devotion: 7
7. Names and Epithets
I've got a blogpost series already on Hekate's more than 100 epithets over at my primary blog. They're divided according to their history: Part 1, Part 2, and the least likely to have a history with Hekate is Part 3. It's an on-going project that may very well take me the rest of my days.
So, instead I'll use this as an opportunity to talk about the epithets with whom I work most closely. This will be overflowing in UPG, I suspect, as I meditate on each of these...
Kleidoukhos - Keybearer - Greek - In at least one of Hekate's temples, the Keybearer was a priesthood, and played some sort of role in ritual, likely unlocking a gate or room that was important to certain festivals. Keys are such an integral part of our lives today. Think about how much they do. They protect our homes, our cars. They allow us to protect our belongings, and allow us to travel. Sometimes Keys are connected to memories. I can't be the only one with keys to houses long since past! Keys symbolically protect that which is precious to us, and are often connected in modern iconography with the heart. Keybearers are guides that lead a person toward Mysteries. They carry the Key that opens the secrets of the World. Sometimes that Key opens a part of our self that we didn't know was there. The process isn't always a pretty one, or an easy one. Unlocking one's heart, or seeking the Mysteries, means being fiercely honest, and being Willing to face some things in life which one might prefer to avoid. In the Covenant of Hekate, the Keybearer is the leader of the group, Sorita d'Este. Other Hekateans I know also consider themselves to be Keybearers in Hekate's keeping. These brave individuals help others to find their inner strength and to develop a relationship with Hekate. They offer forth the Key to understanding of who Hekate is and what She offers.
Lampadophoros - Lightbearer - Greek - In November, I hosted a ritual in Hekate's honor, and as part of the rites, each of us drew a key at random. Each key had an epithet of Hekate's attached to it. We all kept our keys for contemplation on our own. I received the epithet Lampadophoros. Attached was a favorite stone, a blue lace agate. Lampadophoros which is translated as Lightbearer, Lampbearer, or Torchbearer. This was my first ritual with others as a Torchbearer of the Covenant of Hekate, so it seems apropos. Hekate carries Her light in the darkness, whether that be the darkness of night or the darkness of the soul. I am prone to depression and anxiety, and Her light has led me in directions which have done a lot to alleviate my struggles with it. She has literally been the light that has led me out of the darkness when I've pursued my devotional work. After fighting with my brain chemistry most of my life, I'm finding it an easier battle with Her alongside. In Ancient Greece, there was a race called the lampadedromy, which was held in Prometheus' honor. The winner had to finish the race with his torch still afire. The contestants were called the Lampadophoroi. While this doesn't directly relate to Hekate, there's something to be said for contemplating it as inspiration. I take from it a thought that we each must do what we can to keep our internal fires burning while we work toward our goals. What keeps the light in your heart burning bright? How can you embrace your passions and keep them as guides out of the darkness of your own life? Hekate has taught me a lot about how pursuing my dreams keeps me alive and able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Soteira - Savior - Greek - Many Gods were called by the epithet Savior. Hekate Soteira lay at the heart of the Chaldean theology. She distributes the Souls into the world for incarnation. With the Father and Mind, She is responsible for bringing reality into being. As Savior, Hekate is Mistress of Life, and a spirit of Fire. The Light She shines is one that brings clarity and insight. Of all the titles She carries, this is one of the hardest to talk about. Hekate is vast enough and varied in Her traits that one Devotee may get to see Her wreathed in darkness with the dead trailing behind Her. Another might see Her wreathed in light offering forth the key to their secret desires.