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Artemis-Αρτεμις
Goddes of the moon and the hunt
History
Artemis is considered the goddess of the hunt and moon. Hunting was very important to the Greeks. They offered up the best parts of their kills to her. Even fisherman offered their best fish. Ephesus built her a temple and called her the "Lady of Ephesus". The temple was known as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In some Greek states, hunting and warfare mixed so closely that she was sometimes regarded as the goddess of warfare.
Background
(from left to right) Poseidon, Apollo, and Artemis
Artemis was the twin of Apollo (god of the sun). She is the only goddess known to have a mother, named Leto. Her father was Zeus . When Hera found out that Leto was pregnant with her husband's children, she was furious and declared that the children could not be born anywhere that was considered land (attached to the ocean floor) or anywhere the sun touched. Zeus searched and eventually found a secluded,floating island (called Ortygia) and covered the island with a huge wave, blocking the sun. The twins were born, some stories saying that it was Artemis who came first, and then helped Leto with Apollo on the island of Delos ( They were running from island to island to escape Hera).
Powers, Attributes, and Domain
A tree nymph looking at her reflection
Artemis lived on Olympus with the other gods and goddess. She sometimes lived in
the woods with her followers, the nymphs. The Greeks believed that her arrows
could make women die of diseases. She can turn into any forest creature, but
usually chose to turn into a hind (deer). She can also heal the injuries of living creatures, but she very rarely chooses to use this. When a woman is giving birth, she protects them.
the woods with her followers, the nymphs. The Greeks believed that her arrows
could make women die of diseases. She can turn into any forest creature, but
usually chose to turn into a hind (deer). She can also heal the injuries of living creatures, but she very rarely chooses to use this. When a woman is giving birth, she protects them.
Weaknesses and Character Traits
Artemis is known also as the fertility deity. She was a virgin goddess, like Athena, although Artemis represents the protector of young, unmarried girls. She is always described as being a young woman wearing clothes that she can run in. She always carried a bow and arrows. She sometimes wears a crescent moon on her forehead to represent her connection to the tides and phases of a woman's life. A fault in her character might be that she took the concept of revenge very seriously, and never failed to act on it.
Myth
Ephialtes (right) bound by chains in Hell
Otus and Ephialtes
Sons of poseidon, Otis and Ephialtes (brothers) were giants. They were arrogant and selfish, and cared for no-one but each other. They always acted on whatever desires they had at that precise moment. One day, they decided to take over Mt. Olypmus. They failed of course, but only barely, and only after Zeus forced them down with his lightning bolt. Unsatisfied in there failed attempt of gaining power, they made another plan. They were each going to kidnap a goddess and rape them. They chose Hera and Artemis. Hera was instantly made unreachable by Zeus, but Artemis had a plan. She allowed the giants to chase her across the sea to the island of Naxos. Once there she suddenly disappeared, much to their astonishment, and in her place a white hind with silver hooves appeared. They were angry and decided to chase the hind instead. It went deep into the middle of the island and the brothers decided to split up on either sides of the island so it wouldn't escape. unable to see each other, they each threw their spears at exactly the same time towards the middle of the island. However, the spears both traveled completely through and impaled the brothers on the other side, killing them both.
Sons of poseidon, Otis and Ephialtes (brothers) were giants. They were arrogant and selfish, and cared for no-one but each other. They always acted on whatever desires they had at that precise moment. One day, they decided to take over Mt. Olypmus. They failed of course, but only barely, and only after Zeus forced them down with his lightning bolt. Unsatisfied in there failed attempt of gaining power, they made another plan. They were each going to kidnap a goddess and rape them. They chose Hera and Artemis. Hera was instantly made unreachable by Zeus, but Artemis had a plan. She allowed the giants to chase her across the sea to the island of Naxos. Once there she suddenly disappeared, much to their astonishment, and in her place a white hind with silver hooves appeared. They were angry and decided to chase the hind instead. It went deep into the middle of the island and the brothers decided to split up on either sides of the island so it wouldn't escape. unable to see each other, they each threw their spears at exactly the same time towards the middle of the island. However, the spears both traveled completely through and impaled the brothers on the other side, killing them both.
Sources:
(click links to view)
http://www.amazonation.com/LegendsArtemis.html
http://www.arthistory.sbc.edu/imageswomen/papers/coffeyartemis/artemis.html
"Artemis." UXL Encyclopedia of World Mythology. 1-5. Print.
http://www.arthistory.sbc.edu/imageswomen/papers/coffeyartemis/artemis.html
"Artemis." UXL Encyclopedia of World Mythology. 1-5. Print.