Sobered by the fear of the Goddess Hecate

Although it is quite crude, its execution betrays skill in drawing and carving stone. There are several other such graffiti works around Ephesus.

The goddess Hekate is shown with three crowned heads and six outstretched arms, each holding a burning torch. In the 5th century BC the Athenian sculptor Alkamenes made a statue of a triple-bodied Hekate which was said to be the first of this type. Around a century later Menestratos, another Athenian, made a marble statue of Hekate for the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus:

“… there is a Hecate of his [Menestratos] at Ephesus, in the Temple of Diana [Artemis] there, behind the sanctuary. The keepers of the temple recommend persons, when viewing it, to be careful of their eyes, so remarkably radiant is the marble.”

Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD), Natural History, Book 36, chapter 4. At Perseus Tufts.

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Ephesus is an ancient city located in present-day Turkey, known for its extensive and well-preserved ruins. Among texemplifies how ancient societies integrated mythology and religious beliefs into everyday life to govern behavioriods under Greek and Roman influence. It exemplifies how ancient societies integratedlves a carving of the goddess Hecate. Hecate in ancient mythology is generally associated with magic, witchcraft, the moon, ghosts, and necromancy. It exemplifies how ancient societies integrated mythology and religious beliefs into everyday life to govern behavior beliefs that governed ancient cities. Such warnings were not uncommon in Roman times, as urinating in public spaces was considered a social nuisance, and divine warnings were sometimes used to deter inappropriate behavior.

Hekate’s presence in Ephesus particularly underscores her role as a protective deity, and using her image as a warning to the entitled class—or the Kouretes, or “youths“ —suggests the use of divine authority to maintain order and decorum. 

In summary, the carving serves as both a practical warning against public urination and a cultural statement of divine oversight through the revered figure of Hecate. It exemplifies how ancient societies integrated mythology and religious beliefs into everyday life to govern behavior.