Artemis: Greek Goddess of the Hunt

Mar 14

3 min read

Artemis with the deer, known as "Diana of Versailles", Louvre

Artemis is the Greek goddess of hunting, the wilderness, birth, and chastity. She is also known as a patron and protector of young girls and women. In history, Artemis is depicted as a young maiden wearing a knee-length tunic with a bow and quiver of arrows.

Some less talked about things about Artemis are that she is also the goddess of sudden death, illness, and disease. She can be known to have a healthy appetite for wrath and vengeance.

Epithets

Of the Hunt, Huntress, Queen of Beasts, Of Showering Arrows, With Shafts of Gold, Hunter of Wild Beasts, Chaste, Pure, Virgin, Maiden

Artemis is Known for Her Domains Over:

Hunting
The wilderness and mountains
Wild animals
Birth, infants, and children
Chastity
Maiden song and dance
Healing
Sudden death, illness, and disease
Light of the moon

Birth of Artemis

Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and the goddess Leto. Leto attracted the attention of Zeus when he noticed her previously hidden beauty. This angered Hera, Zeus’ wife, and she forbade Leto from giving birth on solid earth.

As a solution, Leto went to the island of Delos, which was a floating mass disconnected from the sea floor. This meant that she could give birth there despite Hera’s curse. Artemis was born first and assisted her mother with the birth of her twin brother Apollo. This led her to being known as the goddess of childbirth.

From birth, Artemis and Apollo were fiercely protective of their mother Leto. They often defended her from men and monsters. Apollo slayed the Python of Delphi, which established the worship of Artemis and Leto. Together the twins destroyed the giant Tityos that attempted to assault Leto.

Artemis' Childhood

When she was very young, Artemis sat on Zeus’ lap and he asked her what gifts she would like. She replied:

"Pray me eternal virginity; as many names as my brother Apollo; a bow and arrow like his; the office of bringing light; a saffron hunting tunic with a red hem reaching to my knees; sixty young ocean nymphs, all of the same age, as my maids of honour; twenty river nymphs from Amnisus in Crete, to take care of my buskins [boots] and feed my hounds when I am not out shooting; all the mountains in the world; and, lastly, any city you care to choose for me, but one will be enough, because I intend to live on mountains most of the time.”

(Callimachus' Hymn to Artemis)

Artemis spent a lot of time training to become a formidable huntress. She received her bow forged from the Cyclops and gained her hunting hounds from the god Pan. Overtime Artemis transformed into the great goddess we revere.

Some Famous Stories

Niobe and Her Children

There once was a woman, Niobe, who had fourteen children. She boasted about how many more children she had compared to Leto’s two. Artemis and Apollo were offended and sought revenge. Apollo killed Niobe’s seven sons and Artemis killed her seven daughters.

Actaeon

While Artemis was bathing, Actaeon accidentally stumbled upon her while she was naked and he did not avert his eyes. As punishment, Artemis turned him into a stag and he was ripped apart by his own hunting dogs who did not recognise him.

Orion

Orion was a hunting companion of Artemis. There are various accounts of his death, however, the most common story is that Orion bragged that he could hunt down and kill any creature on earth and in response Gaia, mother earth, sent a scorpion to challenge him. Orion was killed and Artemis had her companion transformed into a constellation.

Associations and Symbols

Bow and arrow
Hunting spears
Torches
Bay laurel
Light of the moon
Crescent Moon
Ocean and forest nymphs
Wilderness and mountains
The lyre
Headbands and bonnets

Sacred Animals

Stag
Bears
Pheasants
Boars
Wolves
Herons
Hunting Dogs
Bees

Crystals

Moonstone
Selenite (Satin spar)
Moss Agate
Amethyst
Garnet
Green fluorite
Agate

Offerings

Frankincense, Myrrh, Mugwort, Bay leaves, Wormwood, Cypress, Pine, Palm Leaf, Amaranth, Jasmine, Cedar
Feathers, Antlers, Animal bones
Pinecones, Acorns, Mushrooms
Water - Mountain/spring/river water
Honey, Honey Cakes, Walnuts, Milk, Tea, Meat, Olive Oil, Almond Oil