Lovely Hekate of the roads
and of the crossroads I invoke.
In heaven, on earth,
then in the sea, saffron-cloaked,
tomb spirit reveling
in the souls of the dead,
daughter of Perses, haunting deserted places,
delighting in deer,
nocturnal, dog-loving,
monstrous queen,
devouring wild beasts,
ungirt and repulsive.
Herder of bulls,
queen and mistress of the whole world,
leader, nymph,
mountain-roaming nurturer of youths,
maiden, I beseech you to come
to these holy rites,
ever with joyous heart,
ever favoring the oxherd.

ORPHIC HYMN 1 TO HEKATE (trans. Athanassakis & Wolkow)

Far from a minor chthonic Goddess, Hekate defies narrow categorisation and inspires fascination in devotees even today.

But who was Hekate to ancient initiates across the Mediterranean?
You are invited to join us in this archaeological and historical exploration of Hekate in Mystery Cult!

curriculum

  • Torches at the Propylaia: Hekate at Eleusis
  • Voices from the Cave: Hekate at Samothrake
  • The Singular Goddess: Hekate at Aegina
  • Mistress of the City: Hekate at Lagina 
  • Guardian of the Way: Hekate in Orphism
  • Anima Mundi: Hekate in Chaldean Tradition

This course is an engaging archaeological and historical introduction to Hekate’s presence in mystery cults and a welcoming space for modern practitioners of ancient Mediterranean mystery traditions. Together we will explore the sources for Hekate in mystery cult, including...

  • Greek & Roman literature such as Lycophron, Lucian of Samosota, Pausanias, and Stephanus of Byzantium
  • Philosophical works from Damascius and Proclus
  • Epigraphical & papyrological evidence like the Derveni papyrus, Orphic gold tablets, Eleusinian and Stratonikeian inscriptions
  • Material and numismatic remains like votives, coins, and reliefs
  • Hymns and oracles including the Orphic, Homeric, and Chaldean
  • Key secondary scholarship from Mylonas, Mylonopoulos, Graf, Iles Johnston, Georgoudi, Clinton, Cole, Chaniotis, and more

instructor

Bria Melitta Nuccio is an Ancient Historian and Classical Archaeologist specialising in Mediterranean Mystery Religion. She is an experienced educator who enjoys making ancient historical and material sources engaging and accessible!

Bria holds a MA With Distinction in the Classical Mediterranean from the University of Leicester. She lives and works on the shores of the sacred Mediterranean Sea with her family.

This course will meet via Zoom from 19:00-20:00 CET (Central European Time) on the following Sundays:

1 November
8 November
15 November
22 November
29 November
6 December

This is a survey-style course for general learning that does not require exams or extensive assignments. All course materials will be recorded and uploaded to an online portal for those who cannot make the sessions live. Live attendance is not required.

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Cost: €99
Inquiries: courses@mtnysa.com

register here