Artemis

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Statue of Artemis Agrotera on Mykonos

Artemis is a Greek goddess of the hunt, wilderness, virginity, and the Moon. She is the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and the twin sister of Apollo. Her Roman counterpart is Diana.

Artemis is also regarded as one of the Twelve Gods, the major deities of the Greek pantheon.

Biography

Mythology

During the 12th century BCE when the Trojan War was starting, Artemis stopped the wind so that King Agamemnon's ships could not cross the sea from Boeotia to Troy. The Mycenaean king had reportedly angered the goddess, and so she requested that he sacrifice his beloved daughter Iphigenia. However, when Iphigenia's sacrifice was about to happen, the goddess suddenly had a change of heart, pitying the young princess, replaced her with a doe.

According to mythology dating to the 8th/9th century BCE, Artemis was also said to have killed Ariadne, a Kretan princess who had defiled a place sacred to Artemis on Naxos Island.

According to mythology, the Hind of Keryneia that Herakles captured was sacred to Artemis, whereas she'd sent the Kalydonian Boar to terrorize the region of Kalydon.

Symbols

Her symbols included a golden bow and arrow, the hunting dog, the stag, and the Moon. At least one of these inspired a temple located in Malis.

Influence

By the 5th century BCE, Artemis had a large statue raised on the island of Mykonos, and several temples dedicated to her all around Greece. She had also inspired a cult which begun on Chios, emulating her roles as huntress and protector of the wild, and then spread out into rest of the Greece. In addition, an armor set was attributed to her.

On Delos, the 'sister island' of Mykonos, the northern region was regarded as lands sacred to Artemis. The eastern region of Mykonos was known as Artemis Hills.

The woman-shaped columns of Arkadian temples were sometimes attributed to Artemis Karyatis.

Trivia

• A lieutenant named Artemis is available via the Helix Store for the ship Adrestia in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey.
• The mural depicting Artemis with a bow in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey is based on a painting on an amphora from Late Classical period, depicting the Battle of the Giants and Gods.
• The statue of Artemis most commonly seen in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey is based on Diana of Versailles, a Roman marble copy of a lost Greek bronze original.

Gallery

• 
  Statue of Artemis in Sanctuary of Olympia
• 
  Statue of Artemis in Temple of the Golden-Bowed Goddess, Malis
• 
  Artemis depicted in a mural in 5th century BCE Greece, with Poseidon on her left, Apollo on her right

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Origins (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (statue only)