Hecate

In the mythology of Ancient Greece, Hecate (sometimes spelled Hekate and pronounced Heh-cat-ay) was one of the Olympian pantheon of gods, a group of celestial beings each responsible for the oversight of specific aspects of everyday life.

Description
Most commonly shown to be three maidens grouped back-to-back (referring to her many-faceted personality) who often had bestial heads, Hecate is usually depicted accompanied by an animal familiar of some sort, her favourite being that of a dog. She often holds aloft a pair of torches, representing her magic illuminating the darkness of existence.

Hecate was born of Perses and Asteria, two of the second generation of Titans, primordial giants which ruled the cosmos before being overthrown by the Olympian gods in the War for the Heavens known as the Titanomachy. Despite this, she is considered to be one of the Olympians, although it is unlikely that she took part in the battle against her forebears.

On Mount Olympus, Hecate was the goddess of crossroads, entranceways, the various forms of magic and spellcraft, herbalism, and sometimes the souls of the dead. Shrines to her were commonly erected outside homes, city gateways and at crossroads in the belief that she would use her magic to protect against the restless dead. To facilitate this, many would sacrifice dogs to appease Hecate in the belief that she would respond more favourably to her preferred companions.