Artemis

Artimis: The Goddess of the Hunt

In Greek mythology Artemis (also known as the Roman goddess Diana) was the daughter of Zeus, the mighty ruler of the Olympian gods. Artemis' mother, Leto, gave birth to Artemis after a short and painless labor. But then Leto's labor continued, with her contractions growing weak and painful. Moved to compassion, the infant goddess Artemis, born only a few minutes earlier, became her mother's midwife and delivered her twin brother Apollo. You could say that, of all the Greek goddesses, the goddess Artemis was literally born to serve as a nurturer and protector! The Greek goddess Artemis was frequently called upon to nurture her needy and somewhat ineffectual mother. All too often she felt compelled to come to her rescue even though Artemis received little from her mother in return. As a result of her having caused her mother no pain in childbirth, and her successful role as midwife in her brother's birth, Artemis naturally became the patron saint of childbirth, the protector of children, and the goddess who especially heard the appeals of women. The goddess Artemis was always responsive to the needs of the vulnerable and the suffering. She was quick to defend the powerless from unjust treatment at the hands of the Olympian patriarchy; it is not surprising that in current times Artemis is seen as the "feminist" goddess.

||
 * = Artemis
 * = The //Diana of Versailles//, a Roman copy of a Greek sculpture by Leochares. (Louvre Museum) ||
 * = **Goddess of the Hunt, Forests and Hills, the Moon** ||
 * ~ Symbol || Bow and Arrows ||
 * ~ Parents || Zeus and Leto ||
 * ~ Siblings || Apollo ||
 * ~ Roman equivalent || Diana ||