Artemis

(Diana)

Ancient Greek Goddess of the hunt

Artemis is the virginal ancient Greek goddess of the hunt. She is one of the Olympian gods and she is skilled in the art of archery just like her twin brother, Apollo. Along with Athena and Hestia, she is immune to the powers of Aphrodite. She is also thought of as one of three Greek goddesses of the moon, the other two being Selene and Hecate.

Birth of Artemis

The ancient Greek goddess of the hunt and her twin brother Apollo are the children of Zeus and Leto, daughter of the Titans Coeus and Phoebe. According to the Homeric Hymns she was born first in Ortygia and Apollo was born on the island of Delos, by Mt. Cynthus. Both children are known for their skill with a bow and arrow.

Niobe and her children

Hubris is never rewarded in the Greek world. One such myth is that of the Niobe. The women of Thebes had always honored Leto and her divine children. Niobe, the queen of Thebes, boasted that she was more deserving of the honor because she was beautiful, rich, and had more children than Leto, for she had seven sons and seven daughters.

When Leto heard about this she angrily complained to Artemis and Apollo. The two strong Olympian gods swiftly flew to Thebes in order to avenge their mother's insulted honor. Apollo quickly killed Niobe's seven sons with his arrows and his twin sister killed all of Niobe's daughters.

Acteon

This myth shows what happens to mortals who view too much of the chaste ancient Greek goddess. The youth Acteon was hunting in the woods one day when he lost his way and came upon the goddess by accident. Acteon happened to see the virginal goddess naked, for she had just taken a bath. She cursed the youth and he started growing the horns of a stag on his head. His neck grew longer, his feet and hands turned into hooves and his ears pointed. He ran away in fear and tried to cry out, but no words would come.

Acteon was able to keep his frame of mind. While he was trying to decide if it would be better to go home or remain in the woods, his hunting hounds caught sight of him. Soon all of his dogs were chasing him through the forest and over rocky cliffs. One dog attacked his back, another gored into his shoulder. The other dogs caught up to him and he was ripped apart by his own hounds. Only with the youth dead was Artemis satisfied that her secret of having been spied naked would not be revealed.

Artemis
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