A complex diety that was popular with the Greeks and Romans.
Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, was one of the most popular goddesses of Greek Mythology. Later renamed Diana by the Romans, she was protectress of childbirth and One of the virgin goddesses Artemis led a group of wood nymphs, who were also virgins. Each of these titles reveals a bit of this goddess' personality and why so many loved her.
Artemis is the result of illicit love affair between Zeus and Leto, a moon goddess. Jealous Hera, the wife of Zeus, discovering the infidelity decreed that Leto would never be able to set foot on solid ground again. Luckily for Leto she discovered the floating island of Delos, a convenient loophole in the curse. Here she gave birth to the twins Artemis and Apollo. Upon her birth Artemis immediately began assisting her mother in the delivery of her brother Apollo earning her title as protectress of childbirth.
As she grew, Artemis gathered around her a pack of wood nymphs who swore themselves to chastity like their leader. If a nymph broke her vow there were very serious consequences, which typically resulted in death. In another story Agamemnon, king of Greece, declares after a brilliant hunt that even Artemis couldn't have done it better. To deal with the disrespect at the onset of the Trojan War she causes the winds to stay so still that Agamemnon cannot sail his fleet to Troy It becomes so bad that Agamemnon is forced to sacrifice his daughter to Artemis. Just as the fatal blow is to fall Artemis replaced the girl's body with that of a deer. The daughter continued to live her life amongst the Gods on Olympus, in some versions she becomes a demi-god (minor deity) and in others she becomes the goddess Hecate.
Though Artemis was a virgin goddess she did at one time have a bit of a crush on a guy named Orion, an amazing hunter. Unfortunately for Orion, he was also in a relationship with the goddess of dawn, Eros. Being a typical brother Apollo became very worried about all of this time his sister was spending with Orion. Fearing her chastity was in jeopardy Apollo created a scheme to get rid of the guy. He talked Gaia (mother earth) to send a monster scorpion after Orion. After meeting the scorpion Orion attempted to swim to Eros' island for safety. Meanwhile Apollo pointed out the figure in the water to Artemis telling her that it was a guy who had violated one of her priestesses. Without thinking Artemis shoots the figure with one of her arrows, it wasn't until afterwards that Artemis realized the figure was none other than Orion.
Artemis was a complex goddess that was loved by the Greeks and Romans.These myths show her to be loving, vengeful and a protector. To this day some her temples are still standing and are a testament to her popularity.
