Hecate is the Greek goddess of magic and witchcraft. She is shown most often holding two torches or a key and in later periods, in her Triple Goddess form. She was variously associated with crossroads, entrance-ways, dogs, light, the moon, magic, witchcraft, knowledge of herbs and poisonous plants, ghosts, necromancy and sorcery. In ancient times shrines to Hecate were placed at doorways to both homes and cities with the belief that they would protect from the restless dead and other spirits. In her form as the Triple Goddess she is considered the goddess of fertility and plenty; goddess of the moon; and goddess of the night and the underworld. Many Wiccans identify her with the three aspects of the Triple Goddess: the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone as well, because of her three faces. She symbolizes the mystical properties of roads and portals, and of death, healing, and resurrection.