Artemis
Artemis is the Greek goddess of the wild moon, hunting, virgin nature, women and childbirth. Twin sister of Apollo, daughter of Zeus and Leto. Roman equivalent: Diana. Independent feminine archetype par excellence: she rejects marriage, leads chaste nymphs in the forests, hunts deer with her silver bow. Patron of unmarried young women, expectant mothers, and the wild nature.
Mythology
Born on the island of Delos along with her twin Apollo. According to myth, she was born first and helped her own mother give birth to Apollo — that is why she is patron of difficult childbirth. From very young she asked Zeus three things: eternal virginity, silver bow and arrows, nymph companions and forest dominion. Zeus granted them all. Artemis became the goddess most associated with wild untamed nature, the moonlight in the forest, the protected virgins.
Famous myths: Actaeon (the hunter who saw her bathing naked; she transformed him into a deer and his own dogs killed him — represents the punishment for the masculine that does not respect the feminine boundaries). Niobe (proud queen who insulted Artemis's mother; Artemis and Apollo killed her seven daughters and seven sons with their arrows). Callisto (her favourite nymph who broke chastity with Zeus; transformed into bear). Artemis is goddess of justice swift and severe, especially against those who violate the protected feminine.
Symbolism
Symbols: silver bow and arrows, silver crescent moon (often crowning her head), deer (her sacred animal — never hunted by her), cypress, bear (her totem in some northern regions where her cult was widespread). Sacred colours: silver, white, deep green of the forest. Sacred temple par excellence: Ephesus, where the Temple of Artemis was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
In modern Wicca and feminism, Artemis (or her Roman equivalent Diana) is one of the most invoked goddesses for: 1) Conscious feminine independence — the woman who is not defined by being mother or wife but by herself. 2) Protection of women victims of violence — Artemis defends fiercely those who are attacked. 3) Connection with wild nature — protector of forests, mountains, rivers, animals. 4) Sport, hunting, athletes. 5) Lunar magic — especially of the new moon (lunar Artemis is more "new and growing" than the full mother moon). 6) Childbirth — patron of difficult births and midwives.
Also known as
- Diana (Roman)
- Phoebe
- Cynthia
- Hecate-Artemis (syncretic)