Appearance: Hecate has been seen in several forms. She has appeared as a beautiful maiden in the spring of her youth. Her hair long and golden. Her young body at its full and untouched glory.  The mothelike figure who cares for the creatures she loves so dearly.  This form is also beautiful and kindly when not in anger.  Her hair is bound in braids and her dress more modest.  Finally she appears  as an old woman, wise and shrewd in what she can see .   Her form on Olympus is usually the wise old woman as she finds it easier to deal with the other Gods in this form.  This form is wizened, hair gray and gives creedence to her title "hag of the night"

Personality: Hecate's personality changes as does her images.  The young maiden is often full of play and life.  Her humor is high and she is easily amused.  As the mother figure, she is protective and kind.  If angered, she will stand between what she protects and its attacker with a vengence of any mother.  The old woman is a mystery.  She is often seen as evil and yet great wisdom can be pulled from her.  Not being really a part of the Olympiad, having come from the Titans, she is usually aloof to the other Gods except for Demeter and Persphone.

Powers: Hecate is proficient in all areas of conjured magicks, potions and elixers.  She has power in darkness and can move things within it. She can make shadows bend to her will.  She has power of creatures and can aid a fisherman or hunter or deprive them completely.   She has the ability to far-see as she did when Hades took Persophene

History & Background:
Asteria of happy name, whom Perses once led to his great house to be called his dear wife. And she conceived and bare Hecate whom Zeus the son of Kronos honoured above all. He gave her splendid gifts, to have a share of the earth and the unfruitful sea. She received honour also in starry heaven, and is honoured exceedingly by the deathless gods. For to this day, whenever any one of men on earth offers rich sacrifices and prays for favour according to custom, he calls upon Hecate. Great honour comes full easily to him whose prayers the goddess receives favourably, and she bestows wealth upon him; for the power surely is with her. For as many as were born of Gaia (Earth) and Ouranos (Heaven) amongst all these she has her due portion. The son of Kronos did her no wrong nor took anything away of all that was her portion among the former Titan gods: but she holds, as the division was at the first from the beginning, privilege both in earth, and in heaven, and in sea. Also, because she is an only child, the goddess receives not less honour, but much more still, for Zeus honours her. Whom she will she greatly aids and advances: she sits by worshipful kings in judgement, and in the assembly whom she will is distinguished among the people. And when men arm themselves for the battle that destroys men, then the goddess is at hand to give victory and grant glory readily to whom she will. Good is she also when men contend at the games, for there too the goddess is with them and profits them: and he who by might and strength gets the victory wins the rich prize easily with joy, and brings glory to his parents. And she is good to stand by horsemen, whom she will: and to those whose business is in the grey discomfortable sea, and who pray to Hecate and the loud-crashing Earth-Shaker [Poseidon], easily the glorious goddess gives great catch, and easily she takes it away as soon as seen, if so she will. She is good in the byre with Hermes to increase the stock. The droves of kine and wide herds of goats and flocks of fleecy sheep, if she will, she increases from a few, or makes many to be less. So, then. albeit her mother's only child, she is honoured amongst all the deathless gods. And the son of Kronos made her a nurse of the young who after that day saw with their eyes the light of all-seeing Dawn. So from the beginning she is a nurse of the young, and these are her honours." -Theogony 404-452

Hecate is the daughter of Titans, Perses and Asteria. She is called "the most lovely one" a title of the moon.  Hecate dwells in the Underworld, but has power elsewhere. She is a goddess of the Moon, of the Underworld, and of magick. Also she is considered the protectress of flocks and of sailors.
The owl is her messenger, and the willow is her tree. And she rode a chariot pulled by dragons.

Hecate is also considered the goddess of crossroads. She belongs to the class of torch bearing deities, and is conceived as carrying a burning torch to suit the belief that she is the nocturnal goddess of the moon and a huntress who knew her way into the realm of spirits. She is depicted wearing a gleaming headdress of stars. All the secret powers of Nature are at her command. She had control over birth, life, and death. Because of her power in the three areas of nature, heaven and earth she is represented as a triple form. She is called the triple goddess. The three phased moon. She is depicted as three female figures or as one with three animal heads. Of horse, dog and bear, or sometimes of three dogs. All wild animals were sacred to her.

Her main area of work is goddess of night and darkness, mistress of all the witchcraft and black arts.  Hecate is the protectress of far off places, roads, and byways. At night during the dark moon, Hecate could be seen walking the road of Greece with her howling dogs and torches. Statues of her stood at crossroads where the traveler faced three choices. Food offerings called "Hecate's Supper" are often left there late at night on the eve of the full Moon. The person leaving the food walks away without looking back, for they were afraid to confront the goddess face to face. This is a way of honoring the threefold goddess where on could look three ways at once.

Hecate is accompanied by her dogs, Hermes, and her priestesses, Circe and Medea, Hecate's daughters. Her dog, who is her sacred animal had been offered to her as a sacrifice. The appearance of black howling dogs at night meant that Hecate is near, and their barking announced her approach.

Once becoming the ruler of the universe, Zeus did not deprive Hecate of the privileges—concerning earth, heaven and sea—that were her share when the Titans ruled the world before him, but she keeps them just as the division is in the beginning.

Hecate, some believe, that bestows wealth and grants advances to those whose prayers she receives favourably. Similarly, the outcome of war and victory in games may depend on her, who grants glory to whom she pleases. And to those who work at sea, she gives great catch or takes it away, if that is her will; likewise, concerning herds, she increases their number from a few, or reduces it to be less, following her own will.

While usually considered vicious,  Hecate has been called tender-hearted, probably because she was concerned with the disappearance of Persophene  and addressed Demeter with sweet words when the latter is distressed.  And when Demeter finally found her daughter, Hecate embraced Persophene, becoming, from that time, her companion. All three are seen with torches, and Hecate became a friend and companion to both Goddesses. 

HECATE & DEMETER
"Then she [Persephone] cried out shrilly [as she was seized by Hades] with her voice, calling upon her father, the Son of Kronos, who is most high and excellent. But no one, either of the deathless gods or mortal men, heard her voice, nor yet the olive-trees bearing rich fruit: only tender-hearted Hekate, bright-coiffed, the daughter of Persaios, heard the girl from her cave, and the lord Helios ...

Then for nine days queenly Deo [Demeter] wandered over the earth with flaming torches in her hands, so grieved that she never tasted ambrosia and the sweet draught of nektaros, nor sprinkled her body with water. But when the tenth enlightening dawn had come, Hecate, with a torch in her hands, met her, and spoke to her and told her news:

'Queenly Demeter, bringer of seasons and giver of good gifts, what god of heaven [theon ouranion] or what mortal man has rapt away Persephone and pierced with sorrow your dear heart? For I heard her voice, yet saw not with my eyes who it was . But I tell you truly and shortly all I know.'
So, then, said Hecate. And the daughter of rich-haired Rheia answered her no, but sped swiftly with her, holding flaming torches in her hands. So they came to Helios, who is watchman of both gods and men, and stood in front of his horses: and the bright goddess enquired of him." -Homeric Hymn to Demeter 19-68

"Then bright-coiffed Hecate came near to them [Demeter & Persephone on Persephone's return from Hades], and often did she embrace the daughter of holy Demeter: and from that time the lady Hecate was minister and companion to Persephone." -Homeric Hymn to Demeter 436-440