Hecate

**Hecate** is a recurring character in the *Divine Comedy*.

She is the goddess of witchcraft and Belphegor's chief assistant, functioning as the director of operations where she handles the bureaucracy that comes with being monarch in Belphegor's place. Barring his wife, Hecate is perhaps Belphegor's first friend that he made in Hell.

## History

### Background

Hecate, like all gods, is one of the Elohim that descended from the Giants whom were in turn created by Goddess. Hecate states that she was present even before the Inferno took immaterial shape to suit the needs of the fallen. She was also in an intimate relationship with the god Cernunnos to which she bore a son named Samhain but broke it off with Cernunnos a century later. When Belphegor took over a circle that would come to be known as Sloth he met and befriended Hecate, becoming his chief assistant in handling *Idle Industries*.

Hecate and Asmodeus would collaborate in trying to conceive a scenario where Belphegor would receive the happiness he deserves. Asmodeus would influence the Moabites to engage in sex, orgies, and all forms of debauchery from having them worship Belphegor as Baal Peor; Belphegor states that it was Asmodeus' version of a 'Belphy Appreciation Party'. All the while, Hecate would lead Eisheth over to the food table of the party where she would run into Belphegor once again, setting the stage for their future marriage.

Hecate's meddling in making Belphegor happy also led to her developing a close friendship with Eisheth who is now his wife. She would take the time off by spending it with Eisheth in the human world where they go for a night out during the Witching Hour and watch humans perform rites while "singing *Ring Around the Rosie* wearing animal heads". Over the years, as Hell and its Circles would go through many changes under the emperors' rule, Hecate would remain by Belphegor's side, relaying to him advice and guidance which formed their strong friendship that lasted for many centuries.

## Personality

Hecate is smart and sassy, quick to make any colleagues who step out of line feel small with a short retort. She can be quite blunt and is not afraid to tell it like it is. As a worker, she is quick and efficient, keeping things running perfectly in the Sloth Circle as Belphegor's right-hand woman.

Hecate has a love for chaos that she originally relished in before Belphegor became ruler of the Sloth Circle and appears to thrill at the prospect of punishment and retribution. She is downright giddy when she assists others in punishing demons and sinners that have personally wronged Belphegor or Eisheth.

But despite the more sadistic traits in her character, Hecate also has a caring side. She comforts Belphegor whenever she notices that he experienced his usual night terror and is quite protective of Eisheth and her son. Hecate is very materialistic above all else, as although she enjoys relishing in the chaos of the other Circles, she loves the “creature comforts” and "luxury tech" of the Sloth Circle.

## Trivia

* She is based on the goddess of the same name in Greek mythology and depicted as the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy. She was the only child of the Titanes Perses and Asteria from whom she received her power over heaven, earth, and sea.
* Hecate being the former lover of Cernunnos alludes to a belief found in Wicca and Neopaganism where she is referred to as the Triple Goddess of the Moon and the consort of the Horned God who is believed to be Cernunnos.
* Hecate is the godmother of Belphegor and Eisheth's son Caliban.
	+ She was also the midwife of Satan and Eve's daughters Melinoë and Macaria.
* Hecate is one of the few mythological pagan figures that works in the Christian Hell.
* Outside of the monarchs, Hecate is the first character that was aware of Alastor's binding to Baron Samedi and Papa Legba's wager mainly from the latter since she is also a goddess of crossroads.