Hecale


In Greek mythology, Hecale, was an old woman who offered succor to Theseus on his way to capture the Marathonian Bull.
On the way to Marathon to capture the Bull, Theseus sought shelter from a storm in a shack owned by an ancient lady named Hecale. She swore to make a sacrifice to Zeus if Theseus was successful in capturing the bull. Theseus did capture the bull but when he returned to Hecale's hut, she was dead.
Theseus built a deme in her honor. The legend is described in a fragmentary poem, the Hecale, by Callimachus and in the "Life of Theseus" by Plutarch.
Translation of Plutarch's text:
"Theseus, wishing to be actively employed, and at the
same time to win the favour of the people, went out
against the Marathonian bull, which was causing no small
annoyance to the inhabitants of the Tetrapolis, and he
overcame the bull and drove it through the city to exhibit
it, after which he sacrificed it to Apollo Delphinius.
Hecale and the legend of her reception and entertainment
seem to be not quite without some portion
of truth. For the demes round about used to meet and
hold a Hecalesian festival in honour of Zeus Hecalus, and
honoured Hecale, whom they called by the pet name
Hecaline, because when she entertained Theseus, who at
the time was quite young, she addressed him as an old
woman would and greeted him with that sort of pet
names. When Theseus was setting out to the contest
she vowed in his behalf to offer a sacrifice to Zeus if he
came back safe. She died, however, before his return,
and received the above mentioned honours, in return
for her hospitality, by order of Theseus, as Philochorus
relates."
One of today's Athens northern suburbs, Ekáli, an affluent and very exclusive residential community on the western foot of Mount Penteli, is called by that name.