The latest discoveries in Selinunte:
An hidden town and the most ancient Hekate representation .
Archaeologists and geologists, both Italian and international, have worked on the site of the archaeological park of Selinunte, also using drones and thermal imaging cameras. Using high technology, the team of geologists of the University of Camerino has detected some thermal anomalies in the ground below the Selinunte temples.
Thermal images have shown that the heat gradient delineates perfect geometric designs in the ground. These surround the remains of the so-called “Temple M”, now located along the right shore of the Selino River. It seems, however, that it originally stood on the extreme western promontory of the lagoon.
A beautiful series of Temples and fountains
The thermal images have highlighted important interventions carried out on the territory, such as deviations of water courses and massive excavations for military purposes or related to trade and religious worship.
So a succession of temples and fountains is supposed to be in the subsoil. Clear spring water descending from fountain to fountain towards the sea filled them. The continuous alternation of temples and pools of spring water made it certainly a perfect place for the pilgrim in search of refreshment.
More discoveries
Thanks to the excavations they have made more discoveries, such as the pipes Greeks built through which the water arrived in the houses.
They also noted the presence of two ports, immediately east and west of the Acropolis of Selinunte.
They highlighted the presence in the subsoil, under the sandy deposits, of some structures, presumably due to buildings, walls or roads.
These structures are currently invisible to the naked eye because dunes and sediments deposited over millennia cover them.
The hidden city
A whole hidden city dates back to 2700 years ago. Scholars made a three-dimensional reconstruction of the houses dating back to the classical and Hellenistic era, in addition to the Doric temple facade, probably considered the oldest of those in Selinunte.
Furthermore, they found cylindrical altars in the houses used for worship, and the most ancient Hekate representation of the whole Greek world.
The goddess Hekate
Hekate originated in south-west Asia Minor, and became integrated into Greek religion around the seventh century BCE.
In classical greek sculpture the goddess Hekate appears in two ways. In early Greek representations Hekate is a young Goddess of beauty and power, carrying a torch and wearing a headdress of stars. Later she appears triple-formed, with three bodies standing back to back, facing in three directions.
According to the myth, Zeus gave her dominion over Heaven, Earth and Sea.
Hekate and her cult
In the early days, Hekate had a variety of roles, the most important of which seems to be as guardian against evil spirits and as a guide through difficult transitions.
She had only a few temples in the ancient world but many small household shrines. They were erected to ward off evil and the malevolent powers of witchcraft.
Her most important cult centres were those of Eleusis and the island of Samothrake where she was worshipped as an associate goddess of the Mysteries.
Hekate’s best known role in Greek myth appears in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, written around the late seventh century BCE. Hekate served a key role in the Eleusian Mysteries. In fact in a sculpture just outside the Sanctuary in Eleusi she carries torches.
Demeter and Persephone mYth
Demeter’s beloved daughter Persephone, the goddess of spring, was playing in the meadows when Hades emerged from the Underworld and captured her.
Hekate assisted Demeter in her search for Persephone, guiding her through the night with flaming torches.
Attic vase paintings depicting Persephone with Hekate and Hermes often celebrated this aid.
Zeus and the other gods finally agreed that Persephone would spend part of the year in the underworld with Hades as his queen. The rest of the year on Earth with Demeter. Hekate would henceforth act as guide for Persephone on her journeys between the worlds.
the change over centuries
By the Classical Greek Period (500 to 300 BCE), Hekate is represented as a daughter of Zeus who rules the Underworld and the Moon. Her darker aspects became increasingly emphasized. By the fourth century BCE Hekate was often portrayed as a fearsome figure, roaming the earth on moonless nights. She walked in the company of baying dogs and the spirits of those dead who were murdered or not given appropriate burial rites.
But in the beginning her role in the Eleusian Mysteries was very important. Hekate carried the light, that is she acted as spiritual guide for Demeter and Persephone. The same for the Initiates in the Mysteries.
the goddess of light
Hekate guides Persephone on her journey between the worlds, to and from Hades. In the same way she guides the dead and witches who seek to make the journey to the Other World.
Persephone’s journeys to and from Hades marked the beginning and the end of the productive growing season.
For this reason Hekate is patron to all who stand on the boundary between life and death, midwives, healers and witches.
Sadly Hekate became increasingly demonized, until the Middle Ages reduced her to a parody of an evil crone. She became a dark Goddess, though still depicted with two torches.
hekate as spiritual guide
Even now she illuminates the darkness.
Hekate is much more than this. She is a spiritual guide. She brings the light, so she is the light. Hekate guides the Soul and the Seeker. Hekate’s torches are the light in the darkness. Light reveals what is hidden and provides a way for initiates seeking pathways towards an understanding of the Mysteries.
She was one of the principal deities venerated in the Athenian families as a protector goddess. She granted daily prosperity and blessings on the family.
Hekate blessed every child’s birth and brought abundance to those who honor her.
Her torches provide protection from the unseen forces, but her torches are also weapons.
Hekate’s light has the potential to be both illuminating and transformative but also dreadfully dark and petrifying.
Now guess who is she reminding me of?
