.
ARTEMIS GODDESS ΑΡΤΕΜΙΣ

GENERAL INFO

I) What was Artemis the goddess of?

II) What were her symbols, attributes,
sacred plants and animals?

III) Who were the family & attendants of Artemis?

IV) Where and how was she worshipped?

V) What were some popular myths about Artemis?

PICTURES

I) Depictions of Artemis in Greek Vase Painting

These images of Artemis come from Ancient Greek Vases, painted approximately
2,500 years ago. NB Click on thumbnails to view full-size images.

II) Other Classical Depictions of Artemis

Artemis was also depicted in classical statues, stone reliefs, frescoes and coins.

SELECTED MYTHS (short versions)

I) Artemis & the Death of Aktaion

"To Autonoe and Aristaios was born a son Aktaion, who was reared by Kheiron and trained as a huntsman, but was later eaten up on Kithairon by his own dogs [because] ... he saw Artemis bathing. They say that the goddess changed him on the spot into a deer, and drove his fifty hunting dogs into a frenzy so that they unintentionally ate him. When he was no more, they looked for their master with great howls and bays." Source: Apollodorus, The Library 3.30

II) Artemis & the Daughters of Niobe

"Amphion married Niobe, the daughter of Tantalos, who bore him seven sons ...and as many daughters ... With her fine brood Niobe claimed to be more blest with children than Leto. Leto was annoyed by this, and urged Artemis and Apollon against Niobe’s children. Artemis killed all the females in the house with her arrows, an Apollon all the males as they were hunting together on Mount Kithairon. Of the males only Amphion was spared, and of the females only Khloris the elder." Source: Apollodorus , The Library 3.46

III) Artemis & the Gigante Orion

"Diana [Artemis] loved [the giant] Orion and came near marrying him. Apollo [her twin brother] took this hard, and when scolding her brought no results, on seeing the head of Orion who was swimming a long way off, he wagered her that she couldn’t hit with her arrows the black object in the sea. Since she wished to be called an expert in that skill, she shot an arrow and pierced the head of Orion. The waves brought his slain body to the shore, and Diana [Artemis], grieving greatly that she had struck him, and mourning his death with many tears, put him among the constellations."Source: Hyginus, Astronomica 2.34

IV) Artemis & the Gigantes Aloadai

"When the Aloadai Giants were nine years old and measured eighteen feet across by fifty four feet tall, they decided to fight the gods. So they set Mount Ossa on top of Mount Olympos, and then placed Mount Pelion on top of Ossa, threatening by means of these mountains to climb up to the sky ... Ephialtes paid amorous attention to Hera, as did Otos to Artemis ... Artemis finished off the Aloadai in Naxos by means of a trick: in the likeness of a deer she darted between them, and in their desire to hit the animal they speared each other." Source: Apollodorus, The Library 1.53

V) Artemis & the Sacrifice of Iphigeneia

"When the [Greek] expedition [for Troy] had mustered at Aulis, Agamemnon, while at the chase, shot a stag and boasted that he surpassed even Artemis in hunting. At this the goddess was so angry that she sent stormy winds and prevented them from sailing. Kalkhas then told them of the anger of the goddess and bade them sacrifice Iphigeneia to Artemis. This they attempt to do, sending to fetch Iphigeneia as though for marriage with Akhilleus. Artemis, however, snatched her away and transported her to the Tauroi, making her immortal, and put a stag in place of the girl upon the altar." Source: Proclus, Chrestomathy 1

VI) Artemis & the Kalydonian Boar

"Once when he [Oineus king of Kalydon] was sacrificing first-fruits on behalf of his country, he forgot about Artemis. In her anger she set on them a savage Boar that ravaged the land slaying many. Then Meleagros and the son of Thestios assembled the flower of Greece against the Boar. They arrived and slew the beast. Meleagros assigned the flesh of the boar to the heroes, keeping the head and the hide as his privilege. Because they had slain a Boar sacred to her, Artemis was even more angry and inflicted discord among them. So the sons of Thestios and the other Kouretes seized the hide declaring that it was the half-share of the perquisites due to them [leading to a war between the Kalydonians and Kouretes]." Source: Antoninus Liberalis, Metamorphoses 2

VII) Artemis & the Fall of Kallisto

"Callisto was a daughter of Lycaon, who ruled in Arcadia. Out of her zeal for hunting she joined Diana [Artemis], and was greatly loved by the goddess because of their similar temperaments. Later, when made pregnant by Jove [Zeus], she feared to tell the truth to Diana [Artemis]. But she couldn’t conceal it long, for as her womb grew heavier near the time of her delivery, when she was refreshing her tired body in a stream, Diana realized she had not preserved her virginity. In keeping with her deep distrust, the goddess inflicted no light punishment. Taking away her maiden features, she changed her into the form of a bear, called ‘arktos’ in Greek. In this form she bore Arcas ...
[In another version of the story] Jupiter [Zeus], assuming the form of Diana
[Artemis], followed the girl as if to aid her in hunting, and embraced her when out of sight of the rest. Questioned by Diana as to the reason for her swollen form, she replied that it was the goddess’ fault, and because of this reply, Diana changed her into the shape we mentioned above." Source: Hyginus, Astonomica 2.1

FURTHER INFO (15 detailed pages on Artemis)

PART 1: INDEX & ILLUSTRATIONS
Index of Artemis pages and sections
Illustrations from Greek Vase Paintings
Quotes - Descriptions, Hymns

PART 2: ARTEMIS GODDESS OF
Quotes - describing her various divine functions

PART 3A: MYTHS GENERAL 1
Quotes - general stories about Artemis

PART 3B: MYTHS GENERAL 2
Quotes - general stories about Artemis continued

PART 4A: MYTHS WRATH 1
List of those Punished - Avenger of Leto, Defender of Virginity
Quotes - stories of those punished by the goddess

PART 4B: MYTHS WRATH 2
List of those Punished - Defender Divine Privilege, Huntress
Quotes - stories of those punished by the goddess

PART 4C: MYTHS WRATH 3
List of those Punished - Fallen & Hybristic Maidens, Semi-Historical
Quotes - stories of those punished by the goddess

PART 5: MYTHS BLESSINGS
List of those Blessed
Quotes - stories of heroes blessed or assisted by the goddess

PART 6: TREASURES
Lists of divine Possessions
Quotes - items owned by the goddess; sacred plants and animals

PART 7: ATTENDANTS
Lists of divine Attendants
Quotes - attendants of the goddess

PART 8A: CULT OF ARTEMIS 1
Quotes - cult of the goddess organised by region
(southern Greece: Athens, Korinthos, Argos, Sparta, Messenia)

PART 8B: CULT OF ARTEMIS 2
Quotes - cult of the goddess organised by region
(southern Greece 2: Elis, Akhaia, Arkadia)

PART 8C: CULT OF ARTEMIS 3
Quotes - cult of the goddess organised by region
(rest of Greece: northern & central Greece, Aegean Islands)

PART 8D: CULT OF ARTEMIS 4
Quotes - cult of the goddess organised by region
(Greek Colonies: Anatolia, Skythia, Italia, Gaul, Iberia)

PART 9: TITLES & EPITHETS
List of Cult Titles and Poetic Epithets

PAGE BORDER: Derived from on an ancient Greek vase painting