PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Artemis
goddess of hunt
roman name Diana
The Temple of Artemis was an impressive worship center at Ephesus (located in modern-day Turkey). Classified as a vanished Wonder of the Ancient World, the temple was used to honor and praise Artemis
Artemis was one of the most revered and honored of the ancient Greek deities. Her rule spanned across many things, including hunting, the moon, virginity, childbirth and the wilderness and wild animals. She was also considered the protector of young girls up into the age of marriage.
This statue is regarded as being not a good specimen of its kind. Marble. Roman Period, 2nd to 3rd century CE, copy of a Hellenistic original dating to the 4th century BCE. From Mytilene,
Artemis was a protector. She protected wild and tame animals and all of nature. She also protected agriculture, animal herding, and the hunt.
While she protected women, she could also bring ruin to them. Artemis was believed to inflict diseases upon women who angered her or went against her wishes.
It is said that Artemis traveled by a golden chariot pulled by four huge golden-antlered deer named the Elaphoi Khrysokeroi (literally “golden-horned deer”). There were originally five of these creatures pulling her chariot, but one managed to escape and become known individually as the Ceryneian Hind.
To remain a virgin forever
To have many of her own names, to make a distinction between her and Apollo
To be given a reliable bow and arrows forged by the Cyclopes
To be known as “The Light Bringer”
To be permitted to wear a short chiton (a style reserved for men), which would allow her to hunt without restriction
To have her personal choir be composed of sixty of Oceanus’ daughters – all nine years old
To have an entourage of twenty nymphs to watch her weapons during breaks and care for her many hunting dogs
To have domain over all mountains
To be granted patronage of any city, so long as she doesn’t have to travel there often
To be called upon for births by women experiencing painful childbirth
Artemis is a moon goddess outside of being the goddess of the hunt, young girls, childbirth, and wild animals. In this way, she is directly contrasted with her twin brother, Apollo, as one of his symbols is of a shining sun.
