Enchanting. Romantic. Divine.
These Goddesses of the night are getting more and more attention, and of course for good reason. Powerful women, often villainized by patriarchal texts, are getting their time and the praise they deserve. Want to harness the power of all these powerful Goddesses? Shop our Mystical Goddess Bracelet.
Medusa
Goddess of Revenge
Although, in the most well known myth written by the Roman poet Ovid, Medusa was born extremely beautiful and human-like. Poseidon, especially attracted to her voluptuous hair, assaulted her in the temple of Athena. Engraged, Athena, unable to punish Poseidon, banished Medusa to an island and cursed her to have snakes for hair and a face so revolting it would turn the onlooker to stone. Feminist writers of the 20th saw parallels between the punishment and isolation the Gorgon faced for her own assault and the way women are so often maligned for the mistreatment they endure. Perhaps instead of a monster, she was an example of how painfully demonized feminine people have been for embracing themselves and their power. Through the century Medusa became a feminist symbol of the power of feminine rage, leaving the male gaze, and finding independence, in addition to protection.
Persephone
Goddess of the Underworld
In addition to her birthright as the Goddess of springtime, Perseophone was tricked into marrying Hades and becoming the Queen of the Underworld, where she presided over the dead with intriguing autonomy. She was seen as an authority in the Underworld often making vital decisions when it came to the fate of mortals. Because she had to split her time between Earth and hell, we have her to thank for a prosperous spring and summer, but must suffer her absence during fall and winter with barren lands and no harvests.
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Hecate
Goddess of Magic
The Greek Goddess of the night and the moon and is often associated with the spiritual underworld. There she was Persephone’s confidant and aided Demeter in getting her daughter back. In many instances Hecate is depicted with three heads to represent the past, present, and future. She had knowledge of herbs, poisonous plants and sorcery. Festivals to honor Hecate were held at night with black lambs often being sacrificed to her. She oversees practices connected with witchcraft and enchantments and is said to be connected with the appearance of ghosts and spectres.
Selene
Goddess of the Moon
Selene is sometimes depicted riding a chariot drawn by two winged horses as that’s what she would use to travel the sky during the night and is often drawn with a crown that represents the sphere of the moon. It was believed that Selene actually pulled the moon out and lit up the night. Because the moon and stars have both virtuous and sinister connotations, she is worshipped in this world and the underworld. Selene’s appeal to both the moon’s lighter and darker meanings make her duplicative in nature.