Medea And Priestes Similarities

Based on the readings, it appears that Medea’s powers are based on being a priestess of Hecate; due to the amount of emphasis she places in the Goddess’ power and how often she is invoked in Medea’s rituals. While several references can be made to determine Medea as a priestess, Circe has no such established connections. In fact, it appears that most of Circe’s power is her own and is a witch that shares a similarity with Hecate that can be explained by a familiar bond.
Circe and Hecate share similarities in their methods and personality, both tending to put their drugs in the food of others for their own purposes and are known to be cruel to their subjects (Siculus, 4.45). However besides knowledge that could be passed down between mother and child, there does not appear to be similarities in magic. This results in the thought that Circe is only the relative of Hecate and does not worship her as a priestess would. It appears that the specialization of drug usage that they …show more content…
One instance has Medea as a priestess initiating those that want to pass the gate Hecate guarded at the entrance of the house of Aeetes and was the one who hid and knew the required rituals (Orpheus, 887). Another source that supports the thought that Medea is a priestess of Hecate is when plotting her revenge against Jason, she monologues that she reveres Hecate whom helps with witchcraft (Euripides, 31).
When looking over the stories of Circe and Medea, it is clear that both of them have a connection with Hecate. They both are her children and have a basis in drugs but, Circe appears to be able to stand on her own power. Meanwhile Medea needs to have more support from Hecate to carry out her witchcraft and acts more as a priestess then a witch. Medea’s priestesshood is implied in most of the versions of her story and downright stated by Euripides and