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Greek Olympian – Artemis – Goddess of Hunting
ARTEMIS FACTS |
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| Name(s): | Artemis, Aeginaea, Aetole, Agrotera, Kourotrophos, Locheia, Cynthia, Amarynthia, Phoebe, Alphaea, Alpheaea, Alpheiusa |
| Rules over: | the Hunt, Forests and Hills, the Moon, Archery |
| Gender: | Female |
| Symbols: | Bow, Arrows, Stags, Hunting dog and moon |
| Sacred animals: | Deer |
| Parents: | Zeus and Leto |
| Siblings: | Ares, Athena, Apollo, Aphrodite, Dionysus, Hebe, Hermes, Heracles, Helen of Troy, Hephaestus, Perseus, Minos, the Muses, the Graces |
| Roman name: | Diana |
Greek mythology is filled with respected gods and goddesses that continue to inspire. Artemis is known as the goddess of the hunt and is one of the most respected of all the ancient Greek deities. It is thought that her name, and even the goddess herself, may even be pre-Greek. She was the daughter of ZEUS, king of the gods, and the TITANESS LETO and she has a twin brother, the god APOLLO.
Not only was Artemis the goddess of the hunt, she was also known as the goddess of wild animals, wilderness, childbirth and virginity. Also, she was protector of young children and was know to bring and relieve disease in women. In literature and art she was depicted as a huntress carrying a bow and arrow. She was the goddess of many things, but most remember her as the most recognizable of the hunting deities.
Artemis was a virgin and drew the attention and interest of many gods and men. However, it was only her hunting companion, Orion, that won her heart. It is believed that Orion was accidentally killed either by Artemis herself or by GAIA, the primordial goddess of the earth.
In one version of the stories of ADONIS – who was a late addition to Greek mythology during the Hellenistic period – Artemis sent a wild boar to kill Adonis after he continued to boast that he was a far greater hunter than her.
The Origins of Artemis…
Artemis Depictions…
Greek Olympian – Aristaeus God of Useful Arts, Countryside and Pastoral Places
ARISTAEUS FACTS |
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| Name(s): | Aristaeus |
| Rules over: | Animal Husbandry, Bee-Keeping, Fruit Trees, Cheesemaking, Olive-Growing |
| Title: | Minor Patron God of Animal Husbandry, God of Useful Arts |
| Gender: | Male |
| Symbols: | — |
| Sacred animals: | Bees, Sheep |
| Items: | Vine, Olives |
| Parents: | Apollo and Cyrene |
| Consort: | Autonoe |
| Other significant others: | Chiron and the Muses that taught Aristaeus |
| Children: | Actaeon and Macris, Charmos, Kallikarpos |
| Roman name: | Mellona |
In Greek mythology, Aristaeus was the god useful arts, such as bee-keeping and cheese-making, olive-growing, herding, and hunting. He was a rustic god, a god of the countryside and pastoral places.
Aristaeus was a minor god in Athens but a prominent god in Boetia, a farming region in central Greece, where he was known as “the pastoral Apollo.” Aristaeus is often pictured on Boetian pottery as a young man with wings.
Aristaeus also appears prominently in the mythology of Macedonia, Arcadia, Sicily, Sardinia, Thessaly, and Ceos. Later, stories about his travel emerged in order to account for his prominence in all these different regions.
Over time, Aristaeus became a popular Greek name, given to many famous public figures in ancient Greek politics and society.
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