Triangular Hekate Table from Pergamon

Triangular-Hekate-table-from-Pergamon

 

Description

The triangular table is dedicated to Hekate and shows her three figures, each holding different of her attrbutes in the hands: The snake, torches, a key, a dagger and a whip,  Magic signs are depicted on the inside as well as on the outside of the rims and under the feet of the Hekate figures.

The epithets of Hekate inscribed under the feet of the three figures are related to her role as a moon goddesses :

    • Ameibousa (Αμειβουσα) = the changing one
    • Nuchiê (Νυχιη) = the nightly
    • Phoibiê (Φοιβιη) = bright, radiant; the bright one

The inscriptions consists of a lengthy list of secret names and words we don’t understand today, as well as combinations of vowels and epithets of Hekate. It is an invocation and likely had to be recited furing the ritual when the table was used.

The small platform in the center might have been used to place an incense burner upon it and to make offerings to the goddess.

This is the only completely preserved triangular Hekate table. Fragments of two other tables have been discovered, but none is complete.


Data

Location: Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Antikensammlung
Inventory number: Misc. 8612, 5
Material: Bronze
Dating: 3rd century
Provenance: Pergamon
Dimensions: 26 cm x 26 cm, hight: 23,3 cm

Link: https://id.smb.museum/object/695499/
Licensed under the CC license CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

 

Literature

Richard Wünsch, Antikes Zaubergerät aus Pergamon (1905). Online available for free at archive.org


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