what is hecate the goddess of

Hecate is a goddess in ancient Greek religion and mythology, most often associated with magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts, necromancy, and sorcery. She was the only child of the Titanes Perses and Asteria. Hecate was identified with a number of other goddesses, including Artemis, Selene, Despoine, the sea-goddess Krataeis, the goddess of the Taurian Khersonese in Skythia, the Kolkhian nymph Perseis, the heroine Iphigeneia, the Thracian goddesses Bendis and Kotys, the Euboian nymph Maira, the Eleusinian nymph Daeira, and the Boiotian nymph Herkyna. Hecate was also one of several deities worshipped in ancient Athens as a protector of the household, alongside Zeus, Hestia, Hermes, and Apollo. Hecate was represented as single-formed, clad in a long robe, holding burning torches.