More About Goddesses: Artemis,
Greek Goddess of the Hunt
By Tim Kavi
Artemis is the daughter
of Zeus and Leto, and the twin sister of Apollo. Her bow
and arrows that she would carry were made by Cyclopes and Hephaestus. She is
depicted as goddess of the hunt, wild animals and many cities also worshiped her
as the goddess of fertility. Artemis is often depicted with the moon above her
head and was frequently depicted as being close with Selene, the goddess of the
moon. More often she would be depicted as roaming the mountain forests with her
nymphs by her side in search of panthers, stags, hinds and lions. In later
myths she would assist these animals by protecting their overall well-being
while fighting to ensure their safety.
Artemis is also seen as
the goddess of chastity. Legend has it that when she was three years old,
Artemis asked Zeus to provide her with eternal virginity. All of her close
companions were virgins, and she would punish any man who attempted to harm the
purity of herself or her companions. In one legend, Actaeon came upon Artemis
and her nymphs bathing naked in a pool, and when she saw him watching Artemis
transformed him into a stag and sent her hounds after him. She was also known
to use her bow to kill those who were known to rape women, including Orion.
Because Artemis was
born before her brother Apollo, her mother gifted her the island of Ortygia as
thanks for helping her mother to cross the strait of Delos to give birth to
Apollo. This legend made Artemis an idol to women going through childbirth.
Some cities depicted her as a goddess and protector to those in the midst
of the hunt, a mass of contradictions as
she brought sudden death alongside the birth of a new life. Because her twin
brother was seen as a healing god, many would pray to Artemis for assistance in
the healing of gout, rabies or leprosy in hopes that she would appeal to Apollo
on their behalf.
These and other legends
of Artemis would be honored with lively festivals. Festivals were held
throughout Orthia, Brauron, Brauronia and most notably Sparta. As women became
of age and reached puberty they would be initiated into the cult of Artemis, although
they would be required to leave this cult once they became married. Artemis was
not against the realm of marriage, but she chose to be surrounded by those who
were pure, so those who chose to engage in marital acts would be required to
return her paraphernalia as they took on this new role.
