Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology/Hecale

by Various Authors

HE′CALE (Ἑκάλη), a poor old woman, who hospitably received into her house Theseus, when he had gone out for the purpose of killing the Marathonian bull. As she had vowed to offer up to Zeus a sacrifice for the safe return of the hero, and died before his return, Theseus himself ordained that the inhabitants of the Attic tetrapolis should offer a sacrifice to her and Zeus Hecalus, or Hecaleius. (Plut. Thes. 14; Callim. Fragm. 40, Bentley; Ov. Remed. Am. 747.)

[L. S.]