The goddess Artemis was probably one of the oldest and most influential divinities in the Greek pantheon throughout historyso much so that even today many people are attracted to learn about its history.
But who was really greek goddess artemis? What was his influence? What protections were attributed to him? What was its purpose? Here is all the information you need to know about this divinity.
“Artemis, goddess of the moon” It is one of the phrases that are read or heard the most when talking about it, and probably the one that people remember the most. However, it represented much more than just this.
At a time when women are empowered and fighting against patriarchy, against inequalities and above all occupying the role that corresponds to them, standing strong and determined, it is not unreasonable that goddess Artemis appears on the scene. But what does this have to do with divinity? Let’s see a little more about her.
The story of Artemis
Artemis was the fruit of an infidelity of Zeus with Leto, and twin sister of Apollo. Knowing these data, it can be interpreted that Being the daughter of the king of the gods and the sister of one of the strongest and most feared divinities in the pantheon, her personality and history could not go unnoticed.
Although there is not much information regarding the childhood of Sagebrushsome authors agree that it was she who he asked his father for some gifts such as remaining a virgin. She also requested to live in the woods, to dedicate her life to hunting, accompanied by nymphs and dryads. From there she could rule the mountains and help women in childbirth.among other things.
It is for this same reason of wanting to live in nature that it is also known as the goddess of the environment and cropsin addition to the protector of animals.
Zeus granted their requests and Artemis asked Hephaestus, god of fire and the forge, to make her a bow and arrows to carry out the hunt, That is why it is said that the main symbols associated with this Greek goddess were the bow and also the pike.
According to In Greek mythology, Artemis was the goddess of the Moon, unlike her brother, the god of the Sun, but also of hunting and the environment. They present her as a young, beautiful and virgin woman, who has renounced several marriages and who protected the young women who had chosen that path. However there were other goddesses with similar characteristics to her, for example in Rome her equivalent was the goddess Diana.
Artemis was one of the divinities that made up the twelve Olympians, the main ones of the pantheon, among which we can also mention his father Zeus, his brother Apollo, Hera, Poseidon, Ares, Hermes, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Athena, Demeter and Hestia.
Among the hunting companions that this Greek goddess had, according to some authors, Orion can be mentioned who, despite being one of the most beloved by the divinity, died in the hands of Sagebrushalthough the reasons are not entirely clear and there are different versions about it.
Callisto, daughter of the king of Arcadia, was another of the hunting companions of Sagebrush. The story tells that the group of women had to remain virgin and this was not something that this goddess could fulfill. According to most versions, Zeus, attracted by Callisto’s beauty, transformed into Artemis to seduce her. Product of this, the young woman gave birth to Arcas, but she was expelled from the group of the goddess.
Artemis and Apollo: the twin brothers
It is possible that when studying or trying to learn about this goddess, the names Artemis and Apollo go hand in hand, and this is because these divinities were twin brothers.
As it was told, Artemis, Greek goddess, was the fruit of the relationship between Zeus and Leto. When Hera found out about the infidelity of the king of the gods, she swore to unleash her wrath on whoever she welcomed Leto to give birth to.. According to the story, she even asked the earth goddess, Gaea, not to give her shelter, and the birth goddess, Ilithyia, not to assist her.
It was like that Leto had to search through various regions for a place to stay and be able to give birth to her children, but no one granted her a space. for fear of reprisals from Hera. Thus, Leto reached the wandering Island Delos, a site that constantly changed places in the sea and that was used for those who wanted to escape the vengeance of the gods.
There Leto had Artemis. A curious fact about this is that although they were both twins, she he was born on the sixth day and Apollo a day later. So the goddess of Greek mythology, Artemis assisted her mother in giving birth to her brother. From there she became the protector of Apollo and they forged a close relationship.
The island of Delos was consecrated to the cult of the god Apollo and it became one of the most important sanctuaries of this divinity.
Artemis: Greek Mythology
The myth of Actaeon
Although there are many myths that surround Artemis, goddess of the moonthe truth is that some are more popular than others, especially those that have to do with hunters who tried to disturb her virginity. In this sense, the myth of Actaeon is one of them.
As the story goes, Actaeon was a superb hunter who owned several dozen hunting dogs. One day Artemis was bathing with her nymphs in a stream in the forest glades and was totally captured by the beauty of this Greek goddess.
The goddess Artemis discovered him by recklessly observing her and, enraged at having felt that her virginal image had been outraged, she turned the hunter into a deer. Actaeon tried to flee from the place but his dogs, who had witnessed the whole scene, chased him and devoured him.
In the end the centaur Chiron, who had trained him for hunting, adopted the dogs and created a statue of Actaeon to comfort the animals.
Temple in Ephesus of the goddess Artemis
The importance of this goddess is such that a temple located in the city of Ephesus, in Asia, a few kilometers south of Turkey. It is considered one of the seven wonders of antiquity.
It was a small temple, which was in the center of 127 huge columns, approximately 1.75 meters in diameter and 20 meters high, and inside it housed the statue of the goddess Artemis.
Artemis, goddess of the moon and her relationship with astrology
For those who like to relate the gods to the planets and the stars, since all this is said to have a greater or lesser impact on personalities, the case of Artemis is no exception.
Artemis was the goddess of the moon, a great star that modifies people’s moods in various ways. She in turn, she has a huge influence on the zodiac sign of Cancer.
So it is said that people born under this sign, between June 22 and July 22, are related to the goddess Artemis. For this reason, their personalities are usually intuitive and sensitive, as well as defenders of those they love, as was the Greek goddess.
Did you know all these details of the history of the goddess Artemis? have you been interested for her?
Source: Mythology Guru