In Greek mythology, the goddess Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and Leto and the twin sister of Apollo.

In Greek mythology, the goddess Artemis is known as the goddess of nature, protector of animals, moon and chastity. She also became known as the protector of childbirth and shared this role with Hera and Eileithyia, especially in the early days. She is a goddess of the hunter.  She is called “the one with the golden bow”. She is excellent at archery. She is one of the three virgin goddesses of Olympus, along with Athena and Hestia.

Zeus and Leto

Leto is the daughter of Titan Ceos and Titan Phoebe. As a result of her union with Zeus, she gave birth to Artemis and Apollo. Leto became one of the victims of Hera’s jealousy and anger. Artemis and Apollo also got their share of this anger and jealousy. Hera was jealous of Zeus’ love for Leto and their relationship, so she sent Python to follow and torture Leto wherever she went.

Some stories tell that Apollo killed Python in the temple at Delphi for this reason.

Zeus, aware of Hera’s jealousy and anger, kidnapped Leto and brought her to Delos, where she could live safely out of sight. According to other stories, Zeus turned Leto into a quail to protect her. Leto regained her true form when she reached Delos.

According to some stories again, Leto searched for a safe place where she could give birth to the twins, but it was not easy because everyone feared Hera’s anger. When the time came to give birth, the labor pains lasted a long time because Hera prevented her daughter Eileithia from attending the birth. Finally Amphitrite, Diane, Rhea and Themis convinced Eileithia and Apollo was born.

Birth of the Goddess Artemis

There are different stories about the birth of the goddess Artemis. Some say that Leto gave birth first to Apollo and then to Artemis. According to Apollodoros, Leto first gave birth to Artemis in Delos (according to some versions on the island of Ortygia) and then gave birth to Apollo in Delos with the help of the newborn Artemis’ midwifery skills. This version is explanatory of the fact that Artemis was the patron goddess of childbirth and that women who were about to give birth asked Artemis for help.

However, according to legends, it was believed that women who died while giving birth were actually killed by Artemis’ arrows. Death by Artemis’ arrow is a sweet death.

According to the beliefs, especially young deaths (for women) are caused by the arrows of the goddess Artemis. They are beautiful and painless deaths.

Then sweet sleep released Penelope,
And she rubbed her cheeks with her hands, and said:
“Ah, in my utter wretchedness soft slumber enfolded me
Would that pure Artemis would even now give so soft a death, that I might no more waste my life away with sorrow at heart, 
Longing for the manifold excellence of my dear husband, for that he was pre-eminent among the Achaeans.”

Odyssey / Book 18 – 200-205

Goddess Artemis’ Six Wishes

According to Callimachus, one of the ancient Greek poets, the Goddess Artemis had six wishes from her father Zeus.

Zeus asked his daughter Artemis what she wanted from him when she was very young. In response, Goddess Artemis listed her six wishes as follows;

1- Never to marry and remain a virgin
2 – Bow and arrow
3- To have as many names as her brother Apollo, even more than him
4 – To owns all the mountains in the world 5 – Bringing light to the world
6- 60 nymphs to stay with her.

Zeus fulfills Artemis’ wishes.

Life of the Hunter Goddess

Artemis hunted in the forest with other female hunters who followed her. It was her greatest hobby. Like her, it was a rule that the women who followed her had to be virgins.The women who followed her swore to remain virgins for the rest of their lives and they stuck to it. There was a penalty for breaking this vow. One such example is Callisto and her experience.

Artemis was a goddess who was both loyal and quick-tempered, and when she was angry, she acted harshly. She was easily offended. To mortals she was a goddess of both admiration and fear. She was not to be offended.

Symbols: Deer, crescent moon, bow, arrow

  • Sources:
  • The Illiad /Homer
  • Mitoloji Sözlüğü /Azra Erhat
  • Her Yönüyle Klasik Mitoloji/ Dr Nancy Conner
  • Classical Mythology
  • Odyssey/Homer