PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Artemis is the goddess of chastity, virginity, the hunt, the moon, and the natural environment. She is the daughter of Zeus and Leto, twin sister of Apollo.
She was born on the island of Delos, where Leto had found shelter after being hunted by the lawful wife of Zeus, Hera. As soon as Artemis was born, she helped her mother give birth to her twin brother, thereby becoming the protector of childbirth and labour.
She asked her father to grant her eternal chastity and virginity, and never gave in to any potential lovers; devoted to hunting and nature, she rejected marriage and love.
She was the protector of nature and the hunt; both wild and tame animals were under her protection. She also protected the agriculture and animal herding. Artemis acted out in anger whenever her wishes were disobeyed, especially if anyone transgressed against the animals that were sacred to her. Hr sacred animal was the bear, and she was armed with a bow and arrow.
Artemis appeared in a number of myths. In the myth of Actaeon, he was a hunting companion of Artemis; he was her only male follower. At some point, he saw the goddess naked bathing in a spring. As a punishment, Artemis transformed him into a stag and his hounds killed him.