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Why were statues of Hecate placed outside ancient Greek homes?
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Greek mythology
Oil on canvas by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, c. 1760; in the National Gallery, London.
In ancient Greek religion, statues or pillars known as Hecataea were placed at doorways and entryways to honor Hecate in her role as a guardian of liminal spaces.1
Because Hecate was associated with boundaries and transitions, these markers were positioned at thresholds to serve as a protective force, likely intended to ward off evil spirits. Her role as a protector extended to these transitional areas, reflecting her broader influence over the night, the underworld, and the threshold between different realms.12