The contents of this section are hand-copied from HellenicGods.org, which was originally hosted by "Kallímakhos" James Van Kollenburg (1951 - 2023). With his passing, it is uncertain how much longer his website will remain active. Orphicaeum recognizes the value of his work, and has made an effort to preserve it here for posterity. Over time, external links will become inactive, and email addresses likely already have. However, the efforts of this project are to ensure the work of Kallímakhos will not disappear.
If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

HECATE:

THE EPITHETS

Home Glossary Resource Art Λόγος Contact

THE MANY NAMES OF ÆKÁTI

This list of titles of the Goddess Ækátî (Hecate, Ἑκάτη) includes all of the epithets found in Orphic Hymn 1 and more, gathered from various sources. The transliteration method used in this list is Reuchlinian and unique to this website where the emphasis is primarily on pronunciation, but to avoid confusion there are separate entries using the more familiar Erasmian spellings found in English and American universities.

Æmbýlios - (empylios; Gr. ἐμπύλιος, ΕΜΠΥΛΙΟΣ) at the gate.

Ærannín - (erannen; Gr. ἐραννήν, ΕΡΑΝΝΗΝ. Fem. of ἐραννός.) the lovely one. (Orphic Hymn 1.1)

Amaimákrætos Vasíleia - (amaimacretus basileia; Gr ἀμαιμάκετος βασίλεια, ΑΜΑΙΜΑΚΕΤΟΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΑ) the irresistible or indomitable queen (Orphic Hymn 1.5).

Ázohstos - (azostus; Gr. ἄζωστος, ΑΖΩΣΤΟΣ) the ungirded or the unarmed. (Orphic Hymn 1.6)

Azostus - See Ázohstos.

Boukolos - See Voukolos.

Brimo - See Vrimóh.

Chrysosandalaemopotichthonia – See Khrysosandalaimopotikhthonía.

Chthonii or Chthonic - See Khthónii.

Cleiduchus – See Kleidoukhos.

Courotrophos - See Kourotróphos.

Crocopeplus – See Krokópæplos.

Dǽspina - (despoina; Gr. δέσποινα, ΔΕΣΠΟΙΝΑ. Fem. of δεσπότης) mistress, lady of the house, queen.

Despoina – See Dǽspina.

Einodía - (Gr. εἰνοδία, ΕΙΝΟΔΙΑ. Adj. Fem. Of ἐνόδιος) by the way-side or at cross-roads.

Empylios - See Æmbýlios.

Enodia - See Einodía.

Erannen - See Ærannín.

Hegemoni - See Iyæmóni.

Iyæmóni - (hegemoni; Gr. ἡγεμόνη, ΗΓΕΜΟΝΗ. Pronounced: ee-yay-MO-nee) she who has authority. (Orphic Hymn 1.8)

Khrysosandalaimopotikhthonía - (chrysosandalaemopotichthonia; Gr. χρυσοσανδαλαιμοποτιχθονία, ΧΡΥΣΟΣΑΝΔΑΛΑΙΜΟΠΟΤΙΧΘΟΝΙΑ) the earthy Goddess who wears golden sandals and drinks blood.

Khthónii - (chthonii or chthonic; Gr. χθόνιη, ΧΘΟΝΙΗ. Fem. of χθόνιος) of the earth, earthy.

Kleidoukhos - (cleiduchus; Gr. κλείδουχος, ΚΛΕΙΔΟΥΧΟΣ) she who holds the keys. II. of the numbers 4 and 10, the Pythagorean keys denoting the order of nature.

Kourotróphos - (courotrophus; Gr. κουροτρόφος, ΚΟΥΡΟΤΡΟΦΟΣ) nurturer of children.

Krokópæplos - (crocopeplus; Gr. κροκόπεπλος, ΚΡΟΚΟΠΕΠΛΟΣ. Etym. κρόκος "saffron crocus" + πέπλος "cloak.") draped in saffron.

Monogenes – See Monoyænís.

Monoyænís - (monogenes; Gr. μονογενής, ΜΟΝΟΓΕΝΗΣ) the unique one.

Nyktǽria - (nycteria; Gr. νυκτέρια, ΝΥΚΤΕΡΙΑ) nocturnal, of the night, hidden. (Orphic Hymn 1.4.)

Nycteria – See Nyktǽria.

Ouræsiphítis - (uresiphoitis; Gr. οὐρεσιφοῖτις, ΟΥΡΕΣΙΦΟΙΤΙΣ) she who haunts the mountains. (Orphic Hymn 1.8)

Pærseian - (Persian; Gr. Περσείαν, ΠΕΡΣΕΙΑΝ). Ækáti is called Pærseian or Persian, because she is the daughter of Pǽrsis (Perses; Gr. Πέρσης). (Orph. Hymn 1.4)

Perseian - See Pærseian.

Persian - See Pærseian.

Philǽrimos - (phileremus; Gr. φιλέρημος, ΦΙΛΕΡΗΜΟΣ) fond of solitude. (Orphic Hymn 1.4)

Phileremus - See Philǽrimos.

Phohsphóros - (phosphorus; Gr. φωσφόρος, ΠΦΣΦΟΡΟΣ) bringing or giving light.

Phýlax (Gr. φύλαξ, ΦΥΛΑΞ) guardian of the earthy regions.

Própolos - (propolus; Gr. πρόπολος, ΠΡΟΠΟΛΟΣ) attendant and guide.

Sæmní - (semne; Gr. σεμνή, ΣΕΜΝΗ. Fem. of σεμνός.) revered, august, holy.

Scylacitis – See Skylakítis.

Semne - See Sæmní.

Skylakítis - (Gr. σκυλακῖτις, ΣΚΥΛΑΚΙΤΙΣ. Etym. σκύλαξ, dog or whelp) protectress of dogs. Ækáti uses the Agathós Daimohn (the “dog”) to deliver our prayers to the Olympian Gods. The idea of sacrificing dogs to Ækáti comes from a later period.

Sóhteira - (soteira; Gr. σώτειρα, ΣΩΤΕΙΡΑ) protectress, savioress.

Tauropolus - See Tavropólos.

Tavropólos - (tauropolus; Gr. ταυροπόλος, ΤΑΥΡΟΠΟΛΟΣ) drawn in a carriage yoked with bulls. (Orphic Hymn 1.7).

Therobromus - See Thiróvromos.

Thiróvromos - (therobromus; Gr. θηρόβρομος, ΘΗΡΟΒΡΟΜΟΣ) heralded by roaring beasts. (Orphic Hymn 1.6)

Trímorphos - (trimorphus; Gr. τρίμορφος, ΤΡΙΜΟΡΦΟΣ) three-formed.

Trimorphus – See Trímorphos.

Triodítis - (Gr. τριοδῖτις, ΤΡΙΟΔΙΤΙΣ. Fem. of τριοδίτης.) of the crossroads, the three-ways. (Orphic Hymn 1.1)

Tumbidius - See Tymvídios.

Tymvídios - (tymbidius; Gr. τυμβίδιος, ΤΥΜΒΙΔΙΟΣ. Etym. τύμβος, "grave.") Ækáti is tymvídios, sepulchral, associated with the grave, or, rather, with the souls we remember at the graves of their mortal bodies, those who are between lives. She is the attendant of Pærsæphóni also associated with the dead. Ækáti is said to dwell in the Middle Sky, where the souls of those who have passed float until they are ready to be reborn in a new mortal body. (Orphic Hymn 1.3)

Uresiphoitis - See Ouræsiphítis.

Voukolos - (boukolos; Gr. βούκολος, ΒΟΥΚΟΛΟΣ) of the oxen, tender of bulls. (Orphic Hymn 1.10)

Vrimóh - (brimo; Gr. βριμώ, ΒΡΙΜΩ. Etym. perhaps from βριμάζω, roaring like a lion.) the terrible or angry one.

The story of the birth of the Gods: Orphic Theogony.

We know the various qualities and characteristics of the Gods based on metaphorical stories: Mythology.

Dictionary of terms related to ancient Greek mythology: Glossary of Hellenic Mythology.

Introduction to the Thæí (the Gods): The Nature of the Gods.

How do we know there are Gods? Experiencing Gods