Artemis is one of the most fascinating of the major Greek deities, and there is a wealth of information on her. She is the Goddess of the hunt, animals, the wilderness, childbirth, children, healing, and chastity. She was the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and twin to the God Apollo.
The etymology of her name is unknown, but several suggestions include 'bear' (she was associated with a bear cult found in Attica), 'butcher', 'pure', and 'stable'.
As a Goddess of the hunt, she was often depicted in a forest, accompanied by deer, and carrying her bow and arrow with or hunting knives. As well as deer, it was said that she would hunt the forests with her band of nymphs. The deer is a common theme of Artemis; in one tale, a young hunter named Actaeon sees the Goddess bathing naked. In her fury, she turns him into a deer, and he is torn apart by his own hunting dogs. In another, the Greek King Agamemmon killed her sacred deer and so she stayed the winds that blew the Greek ships during the Trojan war, effectively stranding them. She then demanded that the King sacrifice his youngest daughter to compensate for the deer. As hunting was one of the most important sports in Greece, we can see how her role as a Goddess of the hunt would have elevated her status with the Greek people.
Artemis was known as a virgin Goddess. She never married, and the nymphs that accompanied her were also sword to be chaste. In fact, she was one of the three Goddesses that the lusty Aphrodite had no power over. There are tales of men falling in love with her, but she manages to evade their advances, or they are punished for their impure thoughts towards the virgin Goddess. As well as Actaeon whom she turns into a deer, another man name Calydon was transformed into stone after he spied the Goddess bathing naked. We see that her chastity was a part of her independence; as it was believed that virginity should be saved for marriage, and when a woman married she became subservient to her husband, choosing a life of chastity implies an unwillingness to ever become subservient to a man.
The etymology of her name is unknown, but several suggestions include 'bear' (she was associated with a bear cult found in Attica), 'butcher', 'pure', and 'stable'.
As a Goddess of the hunt, she was often depicted in a forest, accompanied by deer, and carrying her bow and arrow with or hunting knives. As well as deer, it was said that she would hunt the forests with her band of nymphs. The deer is a common theme of Artemis; in one tale, a young hunter named Actaeon sees the Goddess bathing naked. In her fury, she turns him into a deer, and he is torn apart by his own hunting dogs. In another, the Greek King Agamemmon killed her sacred deer and so she stayed the winds that blew the Greek ships during the Trojan war, effectively stranding them. She then demanded that the King sacrifice his youngest daughter to compensate for the deer. As hunting was one of the most important sports in Greece, we can see how her role as a Goddess of the hunt would have elevated her status with the Greek people.
Artemis was known as a virgin Goddess. She never married, and the nymphs that accompanied her were also sword to be chaste. In fact, she was one of the three Goddesses that the lusty Aphrodite had no power over. There are tales of men falling in love with her, but she manages to evade their advances, or they are punished for their impure thoughts towards the virgin Goddess. As well as Actaeon whom she turns into a deer, another man name Calydon was transformed into stone after he spied the Goddess bathing naked. We see that her chastity was a part of her independence; as it was believed that virginity should be saved for marriage, and when a woman married she became subservient to her husband, choosing a life of chastity implies an unwillingness to ever become subservient to a man.
However, despite her chastity, she was also seen as a Mother Goddess, mostly through her association with children and childbirth.
There are many who believe that Artemis was also a lunar deity. As her twin Apollo was the God of the sun, it would make sense for her to be the Goddess of the moon. There is also a story told by the Roman author Plutarch which narrates how, during the battle of Salamis, Artemis led the Athenian army to victory with the light of the full moon. However, there are no contemporary Greek writers who give any inclination that Artemis was considered a lunar deity. In fact, the Greeks had a completely separate lunar Goddess named Selene.
She had several temples, shrines, and festivals dedicated to her. One of her temples which was situated at Ephesus was even one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World before it burned down. In Peloponnese her temples were built near bodies of water, such as springs, rivers, and marshes, indicating an association with the element of water.
As for festivals, these varied depending on the location as she was worshipped widely. In Athens her festival was called 'Elaphebolia' and was celebrated on the sixth day of the ninth month, as this was said to be the date of her birth. In Piraeus it was called 'Munichia' and celebrated on the sixth or sixteenth day of the tenth month. Here, young girls would dress as bears in honour of Artemis.
As well as the associations we have already discussed, Artemis was also associated with chariots, spears and other hunting equipment, the hunting dog, and boars. She is a great Goddess to invoke to help you find your independence and live your life true to yourself.
There are many who believe that Artemis was also a lunar deity. As her twin Apollo was the God of the sun, it would make sense for her to be the Goddess of the moon. There is also a story told by the Roman author Plutarch which narrates how, during the battle of Salamis, Artemis led the Athenian army to victory with the light of the full moon. However, there are no contemporary Greek writers who give any inclination that Artemis was considered a lunar deity. In fact, the Greeks had a completely separate lunar Goddess named Selene.
She had several temples, shrines, and festivals dedicated to her. One of her temples which was situated at Ephesus was even one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World before it burned down. In Peloponnese her temples were built near bodies of water, such as springs, rivers, and marshes, indicating an association with the element of water.
As for festivals, these varied depending on the location as she was worshipped widely. In Athens her festival was called 'Elaphebolia' and was celebrated on the sixth day of the ninth month, as this was said to be the date of her birth. In Piraeus it was called 'Munichia' and celebrated on the sixth or sixteenth day of the tenth month. Here, young girls would dress as bears in honour of Artemis.
As well as the associations we have already discussed, Artemis was also associated with chariots, spears and other hunting equipment, the hunting dog, and boars. She is a great Goddess to invoke to help you find your independence and live your life true to yourself.
