Artemis, sister of Apollo and also an archer, is known as a goddess of the hunt as well as of animals and wildlife. Her companions are the nymphs, with whom she dances and roams the wilderness. She is also a goddess who can assist in childbirth, and a protector of young children. Her association with the moon came late to Greece. *

Myth

Artemis shares her first story with her twin Apollo, her birth; in some versions of this tale, she is born first and even helps with her brother's delivery.

In myth Artemis is not particularly friendly to mortals; in fact she can be deadly, and several of her myths have to do with her killing mortals who have somehow offended her. Along with her brother Apollo, she killed all of Niobe's children when Niobe dared to compare her large brood to Leto's two. She is also known to have slain several of her companions when they were seduced by Zeus.

Artemis is also one of the three virgin goddesses; along with Hestia and Athena, Aphrodite has no power over her.Worship

Artemis was one of the most widely-worshipped and most ancient Hellenic deities. She was celebrated in a number of festivals**, including the following:

• Charisteria, a festival of thanksgiving to Artemis Agrotera (goddess of the hunt) and Enyalios (Ares)
• Elaphebolia, a festival of Artemis Elaphebolios (deer hunter), when a stag was sacrificed to the goddess; when stags became too rare, pastry substitutes replaced this offering
• Mounichia, when Artemis was offered small cakes similar to those offered Hekate at crossroads

References

• Burkert, Walter. Greek Religion. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1985.
• Gantz, Timothy. Early Greek Myth, Volumes 1 and 2. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1993.
• Kerenyi, Karl. The Gods of the Greeks. Thames and Hudson, London, 1951.
• Parke, H.W. Festivals of the Athenians. Thames and Hudson, London, 1977.
• Simon, Erika. Festivals of Attica: An Archaeological Commentary. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, Wisconsin, 1983.