Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ Hecate Explained (And Why She’s Called the Triple Goddess)

Wrath of the Triple Goddess is officially on shelves, and the seventh Percy Jackson and the Olympians The book revolves around a quest for the goddess Hecate. After the events of the chalice of the gods, Percy still needs two letters of recommendation to get into New Rome University – and Hecate gives him a chance to get another one. All Percy and his friends need to do is watch the goddess’ mastiff and polecat while she’s away. This sounds like an easy task, but it quickly spirals into the usual life-or-death adventure.

Rick Riordan Percy Jackson Books are always introducing new figures from Greek mythology, and Hecate and her pets have intriguing backgrounds. That’s why a new story surrounding the goddess is so exciting, even though it may leave readers questioning how accurate Riordan’s character is to the myths she’s based on. The title of the last Percy Jackson Sequel may also raise questions about why Hecate is called the Triple Goddess.

Who is Percy Jackson and the Olympians Hecate in Greek Mythology?

Hecate is the goddess of magic and witchcraft

Hecate is the goddess of magic and witchcraft in Greek mythologyWhich makes her the perfect figure to appear in a Halloween set Percy Jackson book. In fact, the holiday is the whole reason she left in Wrath of the Triple Goddess. Because Hecate is connected to imagery commonly associated with Halloween, she believes people will be more likely to worship her at this time. In addition to being the goddess of magic and witchcraft, Hecate is also associated with the moon, ghosts, crossroads, and necromancy (via. Theoi Greek mythology).

Needless to say, Hecate is an intriguing figure from Greek mythology—and that’s no surprise given her parentage. She is the daughter of the Titans Perseus and AsteriaWho are the god and goddess of destruction and divination, respectively. Hecate is initially depicted with two torches, which she uses to help Demeter search for Persephone after Hades abducts her. Hecate also has a mastiff and polecat in the Greek myths, which explains why Riordan uses these creatures to form the premise of his 2024 Percy Jackson book.

These animals are Hecate’s familiars in Greek mythologyAnd they are actually humans from other stories who have been transformed. Riordan stays through this, revealing that Hecate’s dog is the Trojan royal Hecuba. in Wrath of the Triple Goddess, The polecat is a witch named Gal (although some stories claim she is the midwife Galinthias). Hecate’s connections to animals do not stop in the families, as the goddess’ depiction changed over time. Eventually, her appearance took on a more beastly-looking form, earning her the nickname “Triple Goddess.”

Why Hekate is called the Triple Goddess

She is depicted with three bodies and three heads

2024’s new Percy Jackson Book refers to Hecate as the Triple Goddess, and The nickname comes from how she is portrayed in certain Greek myths. Although her initial form is a single figure holding two torches, Hecate is later described as having three bodies back-to-back (via Britannica). The concept originates from Hekate being the goddess of the crossroads; Having three separate heads allows you to look down all paths.

Another iteration of Hecate shows her with three different animal headsA shape that can be seen on the cover of The Wrath of the Triple Goddess. This version of the goddess gives her a single body, which attaches the heads of a dog, snake and horse (via The collector). Sometimes, the animals are swapped out for others. The Percy Jackson Cover features Hecate with the heads of a lion, dog and horse, another common depiction of her.

How Percy Jackson’s triple goddess compares to Greek mythology

Rick Riordan modernizes Hecate but remains faithful to her imagery

As you can see from the cover of the new one Percy Jackson book, The Wrath of the Triple Goddess Leans towards the later image of the goddess. In fact, she appeared to Percy at the beginning of the book as an intimidating shape with three heads. However, Riordan also calls back to other depictions of Hecate. The two torches in her home – to be used only for emergencies – clearly represent the earliest version of the goddess. And the author refers to all her connections: ghosts, crossroads, animals, witches, magic, and more.

Like all of Riordan’s Greek gods and goddesses, Hekate is modernized for the sake of the Percy Jackson Books. However, the author remains faithful to her portrayal in Greek mythology, even showing the fine line she walks between good and bad. The Wrath of the Triple Goddess Does a great job with Hecate in this regard, providing his character further after multiple mentions in Percy Jackson and the Olympians and several appearances in Heroes of Olympus.

Source: Theoi Greek mythology, Britannica, The collector