User:Richard Gillard/Maiden of the crossroads

The Maiden of the crossroads
In the last paragraph, on page 105, of Adrian Murdoch's book, The Last Pagan, Mr. Murdoch quotes from a letter written by the Emperor Julian (332 AD - 363 AD). In this letter, Julian refers to the Maiden of the Crossroads. This phrase is a reference to the Goddess Hecate.

Julian's letter was addressed to one of his former tutors, a man from Athens whose name was Eustathius. In the letter Julian writes, "Come then, lose no time, fly here as we say. A kindly God will speed you on your way with the help of the Maiden of the crossroads ..."

When he refers to the Maiden of the Crossroads, Julian is talking about the Goddess Hecate. This would have been understood implicitly in the ancient world. It is less understood now, at a time when, for many people, the pagan Gods and Goddesses are less familiar than they once were.

References: Bibliography: The Last Pagan - Julian the Apostate and the death of the Ancient World, by Adrian Murdoch