Hekate has many symbols. One of the most dominant is the torch. In hellenic the torch is called δαυλός, dhaulos. You know the epithet dadouchos, is the one who carries a daulos, the torchbearer. Dhaulos is the masculine type and dhada is the femimine type. Let's see the meaning of the word dhaulos.

The torch is a main symbol of the Goddesses of Eleusis, including Hekate as well. Nowadays it is used by political parties, athletic teams, occult cults and religions. In hellenic the word is pronounced today at o but the ancient pronounciation is on u. So Δαύλος is the correct one, dau(v)los. It consists of three parts:

• The three lettered root, dau (=δαυ)
• the connection letter l (=λ)
• the ending os.

So δαύ-λ-ος. In ancient hellenic the υ is written with a tonic symbol called perispomeni, like this ῦ. U has become v in english and it is the letter Y in hellenic, which is connected with the element of water.

Δαυ could be written Λαυ in hellenic, because the letter Δ and Λ are connected. Let me give an example. In the dialect of Attica we say Olysseus for the word Odysseus. Another example is the word laurel, δάφνη or λάφνη in hellenic. Moreover, the connection letter l (λ or Λ) could become d (δ or Δ)

Λαύρη means the street and the ditch, foss. Λαύρος may be written Λάβρος, which means the one you cannot control, the intense, the brash. Λάβρης is the double axe, found in rites of Crete, associated with the bull.

The oς, is a very ancient hellenic word which could be found in the following forms, ηος, jos, σος, σfος. As years were passing it became just ος. This word is an article too which means the one who.

As we see, the hellenic language shows a connection with Hekate and the torch, which travels us back in prehistoric times.

Alternative meanings

Dadouchos was a ritual employment of one person in the Eleusinean Mysteries. Demeter and Persephone were the Goddesses of the earth. Except the popular meaning of the torch, daulos means the place which is full of trees or plants. So, the fertility of the earth is also connected with daulos. Da alone means the earth and also the one which is in thick shadow. It reminds the word of the ephesian letters: kataskion which means in the shadow.
Σδα (sda) or jδα (jsa) or ζα (za) mean also the very red one or a very red thing. Which is associated with the fire.