Greek Mythology Exam 3: Artemis

Artemis

Goddess of the hunt
Normally depicted with a stag and a quiver full of arrows
Sister of Apollo (who is also associated with arrows)

*The birth narrative of Artemis and Apollo are central to who they are

More about Artemis

"Has a golden arrow, chaste virgin of the noisy hunt, who delights in her shafts and strikes down the stag, the very own sister of Apollo of the golden sword"
Associated with religious activity in the East as well as mainland Greece.

Zeus + Leto

Artemis and Apollo (twins)
who are:
- both associated with archery
- both associated with the sky and the sky deities
- Apollo becomes synonymous with the sun and Artemis with the moon

Niobe and her children

famous tale of divine vengeance
Women of Thebes (known for Edipus) give honor to Leto
Niobe was angered and jealous because Thebes was giving honor to Leto for having twins, when she had 7 sons and 7 daughters (more deserving)
Apollo and Artemis decide to kill her children and turn Niobe to stone while weeping

Why did they kill her children?

There is an understanding set in place that children will honor their family and that their actions will affect the way their ancestors are seen.
The twins kill her children to reflect on her

*Myths that are more attached to a place are less widely known
*Amount of times that a story shows up in art is the importance of it

Actaeon

Core of the story: Actaeon, a hunter, comes into conflict with Artemis, changes Actaeon into a stag and is killed by his own hunting dogs
Some Greek poets say Acteon saw Artemis naked, others say he boasted to be a better hunter than her
Artemis usually encounters lone hunters in the woods

Callisto and Arcas

Core: Callisto, a dedicated virgin to Artmeis, was tricked by Zeus into breaking her vow of chasity. Killed by Artemis since she broke her vow or some versions say she was turned into a bear and then hunted by her own son, Arcas, also turned into a bear
They were both turned into constellations, Ursa major and Ursa minor

*There is a pattern of transformation

Catasterism

To be turned into stars/constellations upon one's death. A way to memorialize famous figures. Usually happened if they were mistreated by the gods

Orin

Core: Orin, a hunter, attempts to rape Artemis and she kills him

Arethusa

Core: Arethusa, a nymph, was protected by Artemis by being transformed into a spring
Fabeled to be in Syracuse, Sicily

Pattern

Vengeance
Retribution
Wilderness and regular world, hunters trying to gain control and she is there to put them in their place

Artemis at Ephesus (statue)

-Style is more eastern adn looks more like a cast
-not very feminine
-looks like a tree trunk
-probably breast all around her
-in the east, she was heavily associated with childbirth
-Apollo heavily associated with medicine and causing disease