2. • Artemis, the goddess of
hunting, healing, killing, childbirth, and the
moon, was the daughter of Zeus and Leto. She
was born on the floating is land of Delos where
her mother was banishedby Hera, Zeus’ jealous
wife.
Artemis’ twin brother, Apollo, was born with the
help of Artemis and, when Artemis was at the
age of twelve, a Greek goddess, Niobe, teased
Leto and Zeus about only having two
children, while she had many more. This made
Artemis and Apollo mad, and they killed all (or
most) of Noiobe’s children. Niobe took her
weeping self away from Artemis and Apollo. She
is usually seen in art carrying a silver arrow.
3. • Once, when Artemis was bathing in a stream, Actaeon, a
Greek god, stumbled upon her and saw her in the
stream. With her silver arrow, Artemis killed Actaeon and
bathed in the stream in peace.
The lady of wild things was also known as the huntsman of
all the gods. All the animals feared her, especially the
deer. Her favorite animal was the stag, but many people say
it was the deer.
Artemis helped her mother give birth to Apollo. Jealously
grew from Apollo who noticed that Artemis was spending a
great deal of time hunting with the giant Orion, and he
decided to put an end to the relationship. He challenged
Artemis to prove her skill at archery by shooting at an object
floating far out at sea. Her shot was perfect, and the target
turned out to be the head of Orion.
Artemis helped women who needed help in childbirth. She
was the goddess of many things, and she used her power for
good and for bad.
4. • Artemis' Appearance: Usually, an eternally young
woman, beautiful and vigorous, wearing a short
costume which leaves her legs free. At
Ephesus, Artemis wears a controversial costume
which may represent many
breasts, fruits, honeycombs, or parts of sacrificed
animals. Scholars are undecided on how to
interpret her outfit.Artemis' Symbol or
Attribute: Her bow, which she uses to hunt, and
her hounds. She often wears the lunar crescent
on her brow.
5. • In one tale, Artemis was born one day before her brother
Apollo. Her mother gave birth to her on the island of Ortygia,
then, almost immediately after her birth, she helped her
mother to cross the straits over to Delos, where she then
delivered Apollo. This was the commencing of her role as
protector of young kids and patron of women in childbirth.
Being a goddess of contradictions, she was the protectress of
women in labor, but it was said that the arrows of Artemis
brought them sudden death while giving birth. As was her
brother, Apollo, Artemis was a divinity of healing, but also
brought and spread illnesses such as leprosy, rabies and even
gout.
• Being associated with chastity, Artemis at an earlier age
asked her father, the great god Zeus, to grant her eternal
virginity. Also, all her companions were virgins.
• Artemis was very protective of her purity, and gave grave
punishment to any man who attempted to dishonor her in
any form.
