Artemis (är`təmĭs), in Greek religion and mythology, Olympian goddess, daughter of Zeus and Leto and twin sister of Apollo. Artemis' early worship, especially at Ephesus, identified her as an earth goddess, similar to Astarte. In later legend, however, she was primarily a virgin huntress, goddess of wildlife and patroness of hunters. Of the many animals sacred to her, the bear was most important. Artemis valued her chastity so highly that she took terrible measures against anyone who even slightly threatened her (e.g., Actaeon Actaeon , in Greek mythology, son of Aristaeus and Autonoë. Because he saw Artemis bathing naked, she changed him into a stag, and his own dogs killed him.
..... Click the link for more information. ). She was attended by nymphs, whose virginity she guarded as jealously as her own. She was also an important goddess in the life of women, concerned with marriage and with the young of all creatures. As the complement to Apollo, she was often considered a moon goddess and as such was identified with Selene and Hecate. In ancient Greece, the worship of Artemis was widespread. The Romans identified her with Diana. She is mentioned in the biblical book of Acts of the Apostles Acts of the Apostles, book of the New Testament. It is the only 1st-century account of the expansion of Christianity in its earliest period. It was written in Greek anonymously as early as c.A.D.
..... Click the link for more information. , where she appears to be in competition with the god of the Christians.
In Greek religion, the goddess of wild animals, the hunt, vegetation, chastity, and childbirth. Artemis was the daughter of Zeus and Leto and the twin sister of Apollo. Accompanied by nymphs, she danced in mountains and forests. She both killed game and, as Mistress of Animals (see Master of the Animals), protected it. Stories of her nymphs' love affairs may originally have been told of the goddess herself, but poets after Homer stressed her chastity. She was known for her unpitying wrath when offended. Artemis may have developed out of Ishtar in the East. Her Roman counterpart was Diana.
Artemis
..... Click the link for more information. ). She was attended by nymphs, whose virginity she guarded as jealously as her own. She was also an important goddess in the life of women, concerned with marriage and with the young of all creatures. As the complement to Apollo, she was often considered a moon goddess and as such was identified with Selene and Hecate. In ancient Greece, the worship of Artemis was widespread. The Romans identified her with Diana. She is mentioned in the biblical book of Acts of the Apostles Acts of the Apostles, book of the New Testament. It is the only 1st-century account of the expansion of Christianity in its earliest period. It was written in Greek anonymously as early as c.A.D.
..... Click the link for more information. , where she appears to be in competition with the god of the Christians.
Artemis
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Artemis as a huntress, Classical sculpture; in the Louvre, Paris.
(credit: Alinari/Art Resource, New York)
Artemis
Greek myth the virgin goddess of the hunt and the moon: the twin sister of Apollo
Artemis
(Rom. Diana) moon goddess; virgin huntress. [Gk. Myth.: Kravitz, 36]
See : Chastity
Artemis
(Rom. Diana) goddess of childbirth. [Gk. Myth.: Kravitz, 59]
See : Childbirth
Artemis
(Rom. Diana) moon goddess; virgin huntress. [Gk. Myth.: Kravitz, 36]
See : Hunting
Artemis
(Rom. Diana) goddess of the moon. [Gk. Myth.: Kravitz, 36; Brewer Dictionary, 727]
See : Moon
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