Greek Mythology · deity

Artemis

Ἄρτεμις
also: Diana (Roman)
deitythe huntwild animalsthe moon (later)virginitybirth

Goddess of the hunt, wild animals, and (in later association) the moon; twin of Apollo; protector of young women.

Artemis of Ephesus, Musei Capitolini — Artemis of Ephesus
Artemis of Ephesus · Yair Haklai · undated · Musei Capitolini, Rome · CC BY-SA 4.0
The account

Who they are

Artemis (Diana) is the goddess of the hunt, wild animals, and the wilderness, and the protector of young girls and of childbirth (she is a midwife-goddess in some cults) [S4]S4 · Homeric Hymnsc. 700–300 BCEtext[S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text[S6]S6 · Pausanias, Description of Greecec. 150–180 CEtext. Twin of Apollo, daughter of Zeus and Leto, she asked Zeus for eternal virginity and for the gifts of the hunt [S4]S4 · Homeric Hymnsc. 700–300 BCEtext[S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text. In later (Hellenistic/Roman) association she was linked to the moon (a development parallel to Apollo's link to the sun) [S4]S4 · Homeric Hymnsc. 700–300 BCEtext[S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text. She is a powerful, sometimes vengeful goddess: Actaeon was turned into a stag and torn by his own hounds for seeing her bathing; Orion was punished for his arrogance; Arachne was transformed for her hubristic weaving [S4]S4 · Homeric Hymnsc. 700–300 BCEtext[S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text. Her great sanctuary was at Ephesus (the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders) and at Brauron in Attica [S6]S6 · Pausanias, Description of Greecec. 150–180 CEtext.
Worth knowing
  • Twin of Apollo, daughter of Zeus and Leto [S4]S4 · Homeric Hymnsc. 700–300 BCEtext.
  • Asked Zeus for eternal virginity and the gift of the hunt [S4]S4 · Homeric Hymnsc. 700–300 BCEtext[S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text.
  • Temple at Ephesus was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World [S6]S6 · Pausanias, Description of Greecec. 150–180 CEtext.
  • The 'moon' association is later (Hellenistic/Roman), parallel to Apollo's sun [S4]S4 · Homeric Hymnsc. 700–300 BCEtext[S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text.
Uncertainties & variants
  • Artemis's 'moon' link is a later development; the earliest Artemis is a huntress of the wilderness [S4]S4 · Homeric Hymnsc. 700–300 BCEtext[S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text.
Relationships (3)

Connections

Family & kinship

PARENT_OFZeus — Zeus (with Leto) is the parent of Artemis.[S4]
PARENT_OFLeto — Leto is a parent of Artemis.[S4]
SIBLING_OFApollo — Apollo and Artemis are twins.[S4]
Local graph

Their corner of the divine world

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hierarchical — generations top → bottom, partners side by side
Overlays
FocusArtemisGreek
GREEK · 41variantvariant♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥AegisHelmet of HadesCaduceus of Her…Trident of Pose…Thunderbolt of …Alcmenamortalthe mortal mother of Heracles1 relationsAndromedamortalthe rescued princess2 relationsAphroditedeitylove7 relationsAtlasdeitythe sky (bore)1 relationsChaosprimordialorigin2 relationsDanaemortalthe mortal mother of Perseus1 relationsDemeterdeityharvest6 relationsEchidnamonsterthe monster-mother2 relationsGaiadeityearth6 relationsHadesdeitythe dead7 relationsHeradeitymarriage8 relationsHestiadeityhearth1 relationsLetodeitymotherhood (as mother of Apollo/Artemis)2 relationsMedusamonsterthe Gorgon3 relationsMetisdeitycounsel2 relationsOceanusdeitythe great world-river1 relationsOdysseusherocunning2 relationsPenelopemortalthe faithful wife of Odysseus2 relationsPoseidondeitythe sea6 relationsRheadeitymotherhood2 relationsSemelemortalthe mortal mother of Dionysus1 relationsTethysdeitythe primordial sea1 relationsTyphonmonsterthe great monster7 relationsCerberusmonsterthe guardian of the underworld3 relationsErosdeitylove2 relationsHebedeityyouth2 relationsHephaestusdeityfire6 relationsMaiadeitythe nymph2 relationsUranusprimordialsky6 relationsPersephonedeitythe underworld2 relationsTelemachusmortalthe son of Odysseus2 relationsCronusdeitytime (later association)9 relationsZeusdeitysky29 relationsApollodeitysun (later)4 relationsAresdeitywar (violence, bloodshed)3 relationsArtemisdeitythe hunt3 relationsAthenadeitywisdom4 relationsDionysusdeitywine3 relationsHeraclesherostrength7 relationsHermesdeitymessengers5 relationsPerseusheroheroism8 relations
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Artworks

Depictions

Artemis of Ephesus, Musei Capitolini — Artemis of Ephesus
Artemis of Ephesus · Yair Haklai · undated · Musei Capitolini, Rome · CC BY-SA 4.0
Artemis of Ephesus · undated
Artemis of Ephesus, Roman copy of Hellenistic original (Musei Capitolini) — Artemis of Ephesus
Artemis of Ephesus · Unknown artist Unknown artist · undated · Musei Capitolini, Rome · Public domain
Artemis of Ephesus · undated
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