Artemis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Artemis
Goddess of nature, childbirth, wildlife, the Moon, the hunt, sudden death, animals, young women, and archery
Member of the Twelve Olympians
The Diana of Versailles, a Roman copy of a Greek sculpture by Leochares (Louvre Museum)
Abode	Mount Olympus
Planet	Moon
Animals	deer, serpent, dog, boar, goat, bear, quail, buzzard, guineafowl
Symbol	bow and arrows, crescent moon, animal pelts, spear, knives, torch, lyre, amaranth
Tree	cypress, palm, walnut
Mount	A golden chariot driven by four golden-horned deer
Personal information
Born	Island of Delos, Greece
Parents	Zeus and Leto
Siblings	Apollo (twin), Aeacus, Angelos, Aphrodite, Ares, Athena, Dionysus, Eileithyia, Enyo, Eris, Ersa, Hebe, Helen of Troy, Hephaestus, Heracles, Hermes, Minos, Pandia, Persephone, Perseus, Rhadamanthus, the Graces, the Horae, the Litae, the Muses, the Moirai
Equivalents
Roman equivalent	Diana
Etruscan equivalent	Artume
Canaanite equivalent	Kotharat
Egyptian equivalent	Bastet
Zoroastrian equivalent	Drvaspa

Artemis (seated) with the nymph Callisto and Eros. This is an old fresco from Pompeii.

Artemis is a powerful goddess in Greek mythology. She is one of the Twelve Olympians, who were the main gods and goddesses. Artemis is the daughter of Zeus, the king of the gods, and Leto. She is also the twin sister of Apollo, the god of music and light.

Artemis is known as the goddess of hunting, wild animals, and the wilderness. She also became known as the goddess of the moon after her birth. In Roman mythology, her name is Diana.

People in ancient Greece greatly respected Artemis. Her worship spread across the ancient world. Many temples, altars, and shrines were built for her. Her famous Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Sadly, it was later burned down. Artemis's symbols include a bow, arrows, a quiver, and hunting knives. The deer and the cypress tree were special to her.

Who is Artemis?

Artemis as the Mistress of Animals, from Paros, 675–600 BCE.

Artemis is often shown as a goddess who loves to hunt. She also punishes those who upset her very strictly. She would often explore the forests of Greece with her group of nymphs and hunters. Artemis's anger was well-known. It showed how wild nature could be unfriendly to humans.

Ancient poets described Artemis as being tall and impressive. She stood out more than all the nymphs with her. In some cities, she was called Artemis Calliste, meaning "the most beautiful." She was usually shown as healthy, strong, and active. She carried a quiver and bow and was often with a dog.

How was Artemis Born?

Leto with her children, by William Henry Rinehart.

There are different stories in Greek mythology about how Artemis and her twin brother Apollo were born. However, all stories agree that their parents were Zeus and Leto. Some stories say she was born at the same time as Apollo. Others say she was born earlier or later.

Artemis and Actaeon

The story of Actaeon has many versions. Most of them are only small parts of the full story. But the main idea is always the same. Actaeon was a great hunter. Artemis turned him into a stag (a male deer) because he did something wrong. Then, his own hunting dogs killed him.

One popular version of the story comes from the Roman writer Ovid. Actaeon was hunting in the woods. He accidentally found Artemis and her nymphs bathing in a secret cave. Artemis got angry and splashed water on him. Instantly, he changed into a deer. He ran away in fear. But his own fifty hunting dogs chased him. They did not know it was their master. They caught him and killed him.

Artemis and Orion

Orion was a skilled hunter and a companion to Artemis. He once boasted that he would kill every animal on Earth. Gaia, the Earth goddess, did not like this. She sent a giant scorpion to sting him. After Orion died, Artemis placed him among the stars. He became the constellation Orion.

Another story says that Artemis actually fell in love with Orion. He was the only person she ever loved. She wanted to marry him, and her brother Apollo could not change her mind. So, Apollo decided to trick Artemis. While Orion was swimming far out in the sea, Apollo pointed to him. He said Artemis could not hit that tiny "dot" with her arrow. Artemis, always wanting to show she was the best archer, shot Orion. She killed him by accident. Then, she placed him among the stars.

Artemis and the Trojan War

Artemis slaying a deer, from the courtyard of House III, 125–100 BCE, Archaeological Museum of Delos, Greece.

Artemis supported the city of Troy during the Trojan War. This was likely because her brother Apollo was a special god for Troy. Also, people widely worshipped Artemis in western Anatolia (modern-day Turkey). Artemis played an important part in the war. Like Leto and Apollo, she sided with the Trojans.

At the start of the Greek journey to Troy, Artemis punished Agamemnon. He had killed a sacred stag in a holy forest. He then bragged that he was a better hunter than the goddess. Artemis stopped the winds, so the Greek fleet could not sail from Aulis to Troy. The wise man Calchas wrongly told Agamemnon that he had to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia to calm Artemis. In some stories, Artemis saved Iphigenia. She took her from the altar and put a deer in her place. In other versions, Artemis allowed Iphigenia to be sacrificed.

How People Worshipped Artemis

The Roman Temple of Artemis in Jerash, Jordan, built during the reign of Antoninus Pius.

Artemis, the goddess of forests and hills, was worshipped all over ancient Greece. Her most famous places of worship were on the island of Delos (where she was born). Also, in Attica at Brauron and Mounikhia (near Piraeus), and in Sparta. She was often shown in art in a forest. She carried a bow and arrows and was with a deer.

The ancient Spartans would offer sacrifices to Artemis. She was one of their special goddesses. They did this before starting any new military campaign. Festivals in Athens honored Artemis. These included Elaphebolia, Mounikhia, Kharisteria, and Brauronia. The festival of Artemis Orthia was celebrated in Sparta.

Artemis in Art

A bronze head of a goddess from the fourth century. It wears a lunate (moon-shaped) crown. Found at Issa (Vis, Croatia).

In ancient Greek art, Artemis is usually shown as a young huntress. She is tall and slender. She wears a short skirt and hunting boots. She carries a quiver, a golden or silver bow, and arrows. Often, she is shown in a shooting pose. She is usually with a hunting dog or a stag. When she is shown as a moon goddess, Artemis wears a long robe. Sometimes, a veil covers her head.

Artemis's Legacy

Artemis in Space

• 105 Artemis is an asteroid found in 1868.
• Artemis (crater) is a small crater on the Moon. It was named in 2010.
• Artemis Chasma is a nearly circular crack on the planet Venus. It was first described in 1980.
• Artemis Corona is an oval shape mostly inside the Artemis Chasma. It was also described in 1980.
• ArTeMiS is a special camera for telescopes. It was installed in 2010 at the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX). This is in the Atacama Desert in Chile.

Artemis in Science

The scientific group of animals called Artemia gets its name from Artemis. These are small water creatures known as brine shrimp. The most famous type is Artemia salina, also called Sea Monkeys. They were first described in 1758. Artemia live in salt lakes. They are almost never found in the open sea. But they do appear near the Aegean Sea coast, close to Ephesus. This is where the Temple of Artemis used to stand.

Artemis in Modern Spaceflight

The Artemis program is a space program led by NASA. It also involves U.S. private space companies and international partners. These include the ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The program aims to land "the first woman and the next man" on the lunar south pole region. This is planned for 2025 or later.

See also

In Spanish: Artemisa para niños

• Artume - The Etruscan mythology version of Artemis.
• Diana - The Roman mythology version of Artemis.
• Temple of Artemis

Images for kids

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  Apollo (left) and Artemis (right). From an Attic red-figure cup, around 470 BCE, Louvre.

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  Artemis (left, with a deer) and Apollo (right, holding a lyre) from Myrina, around 25 BCE.

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  A Roman marble Bust of Artemis after Kephisodotos (Musei Capitolini), Rome.

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  A hairnet with a relief bust of Artemis and a quiver. Gold, 3rd century BC, National Archaeological Museum of Athens, Greece.

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  Artemis of the Rospigliosi type. Marble, Roman copy from the 1st–2nd centuries CE, Louvre.

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  Artemis pouring a libation, around 460-450 BCE.

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  The Death of Adonis, by Giuseppe Mazzuoli, 1709. Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia.

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  The Sanctuary of Artemis at Brauron.

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  A bronze statue of Artemis in the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus (Athens). It is from the mid-4th century BCE.

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  The Artemis of Ephesus, 2nd century AD (Ephesus Archaeological Museum).

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  Bronze Diana, 3rd Century BC.

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  Artemis with a crescent moon and flowing cloak. Sandstone medallion from the Arbeithaus in Bremen, 1830.

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  The site of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. Its final form was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

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  Artemis on her two hind-drawn chariot, (Boeotian red-figure kylix, 450–425 BC).

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  Didrachm from Ephesus, Ionia, showing the goddess Artemis.

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  Silver coin of the Indo-Greek king Artemidoros (meaning "gift of Artemis"), around 85 BCE. It shows Artemis with a drawn bow and a quiver.