Artemis

Artemis is the goddess of The hunt, wilderness, moon, and archery. Her Roman name is Diana. Her symbols include a bow and arrow, hunting dog, and the moon. She is also typically depicted wearing a knee high tunic, with a bow and arrows while accompanied by an animal.

Family: Artemis is the daughter of the god Zeus and goddess Leto. Leto only had two children, Artemis and her twin brother Apollo. Artemis did not wish to marry, therefore never had a spouse or children of her own

Skills: Artemis had perfect aim with her bow and arrow and was able to shift herself and others into animals. She also was able to heal, spread disease, and in some ways control nature.

Stories

The birth of the twins: After Hera became aware of Leto’s pregnancy she forbade anyplace touched by sun to provide Leto shelter during her pregnancy, she also assured she would have no help during labor. Zeus felt sympathy for Leto and turned her into a quail, a small bird, and she then found an island where she gave birth to the twins. During her mothers birth it is said that Artemis, the first born twin, assisted, her mother in the birth of her brother.

Niobe, the queen of Thebes, once bragged that she was better than Leto because Leto only had two children. In return Artemis and Apollo killed all 14 of niobe’s children, niobe was then turned to stone where she continued to weep for the the loss of her children.

Artemis and Orion: This story is told in several different ways. In both versions of the story Orion and Artemis are good friends who enjoy hunting together in Crete. In one version of story Orion states he could hunt and kill every animal in the world, Gaia had over heard this and sent a scorpion to kill him, after hearing of his death Artemis requested Orion be put among the stars as a constellation. Another version describes Orion and Artemis as lovers. Apollo, Artemis’s twin brother, was not fond of this affair and one day while Orion had gone for a swim Apollo challenged Artemis skills as an archer, knowing she would not decline, he gave her a target far in the water, in which she then shot, and soon realized it to be Orion.

Sources:

Orion.” Greek Mythology, GreekMythology.com, www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Mortals/Orion/orion.html.

Greek Mythology, www.mythweb.com/gods/artemis.html.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Niobe.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 13 Feb. 2018, www.britannica.com/topic/Niobe-Greek-mythology.

“Greek Stories about Apollo-The Birth of the Twins Apollo and Artemis.” Greek Gods, www.greek-gods.info/greek-gods/apollo/myths/apollo-artemis-birth/.

“🏹 Artemis.” Greek Mythology, GreekMythology.com, www.greekmythology.com/Olympians/Artemis/artemis.html.