The Origin Of Artemis: Goddess Of The Hunt

Artemis

Other names: Diana, Potnia Theron, Pheobe, moon goddess, goddess of the hunt, protectress of childbirth

Mother: Leto-goddess of motherhood

Father: Zeus-God of lightning

Symbols: Bow and arrows,

Animals: deer, bear

Artemis was one of the most iconic and well known goddesses in Greek mythology She was well known throughout Olympus as the Goddess of the Hunt. She was born after Zeus raped the Titaness Leto. Leto fled from Hera's jealous wrath to Ortygia where she then gave birth to the goddess, after being born she rushed to mother’s side and helped her mother birth her twin Apollo thus making her the protectress of childbirth. She then went to Zeus and asked for 20 young nymphs, Hephaestus for silver painless arrows, and pan also

He had never seen Artemis, but heard of her astounding beauty. Upon seeing her in the pool, he was stunned. Artemis spotted him and cast a handful of water at him, the droplets of which transformed him into a stag. While the man was still in this state, Artemis called on her hounds, who, seeing fresh game, unwittingly tore Actaeon apart. Within a shockingly short time, Actaeon's story had spread. Everyone knew of the unfortunate mortal who crossed Artemis' path.

Orion One day, while hunting with his two dogs, Canis Major and Canis Minor, Orion spotted white movement in the woods. Thinking it to be a rare bird, he followed, as the white flashed past him again he realized that these were no birds, but the goddesses 20 nymphs. They quickly ran off, with Orion close behind. He was stronger and faster than them when Artemis heard their cries. She quickly turned them to beautiful white doves that flew higher and higher into the sky. Enraged, Artemis turned to Orion to kill him, but when she saw him, she was disarmed by his features. Soon enough, they were hunting together, camping under the stars and laughing like old

He went to her father, Zeus, and asked for her hand in marriage. Zeus agreed without much hesitation. And so, it came to be that Persephone, the goddess of innocence, was kidnapped one bright and sunny day. As she knelt to pick flowers in a blooming field, the ground suddenly opened from below and Hades snatched up his future bride.

Upon hearing of Persephone's kidnapping, Demeter was furious. She searched everywhere for her missing daughter and finally found out about Zeus' betrayal. In a fit of pure rage, she decided she would no longer share her gifts with the planet below. Luscious plains became barren desert, crops withered and died, and the earth was a decomposing wasteland.

Meanwhile, below the hard, dry earth, Hades was wooing his bride and Queen of the Underworld by offering her food from the Underworld knowing full well she would have to stay there if she ate even a bite of the food. Whether the act was done out of hunger or out of actual love for the self-centred King of the Underworld, there is much debate. All that is known for certain is she consumed seven seeds of a pomegranate fruit, thus sealing her