Do we like Hecate?
A character from Greek mythology (Hesiod's Theogony and the Homeric Hymn to Demeter) (c. 700 BCE onward)
Our score: 7 out of 10. Spooky reputation, kind heart. She guards doorways, helps people in need and lights the way in the dark. We'd back her, as long as we stay on her good side.
Hecate is a goddess of magic and spells, the night and the moon. She guards crossroads and doorways, and she can pass freely between the living world and the underworld. She is usually shown holding two torches, and later art gives her three bodies standing back to back. That way she can look down every road at once. Ancient Greeks put her statues at gates and doors to keep out evil spirits.
She is a powerful figure rather than a hero with a big adventure of her own. She is best known for her small but decisive part in the story of Demeter and Persephone. When Persephone is taken to the underworld, Hecate is the witness who helps Demeter search for her, torch in hand. Hesiod also describes Hecate as honoured by Zeus above many other gods, with a share of earth, sea and sky.
Why a 7? Her reputation is darker than her record. She is patron of witches and tied to ghosts and the underworld, so she is not a cuddly ally, and the sources agree she is capable of good and evil. In the old stories, though, she is mostly a protector who is generous to people who honour her. We'd back her, but we'd leave her an offering at the crossroads first.