Artemis

By K.S.

Artemis, the Goddess of the Hunt, showed the ancient Greeks about the significance of nature and animals. As Zeus’ daughter, she had many jobs being one of the major Greek goddesses. Artemis and her twin brother Apollo were born from Zeus and Leto, who was a titan goddess. Artemis was often associated with the moon as a symbol of purity and love for nature, while her brother was linked to the sun. She was also shown as a protector of children and animals seeing as she lived with animals in the woods. In Greek culture animals and the environment were extremely important because they used wood for shelter and animals for food and clothing.  Artemis was normally found hunting to keep the balance of nature in the mountains of Arcadia. Artemis also did many services to the people of Greece. One of Artemis’ jobs was to care for the animals in the wilderness, which was extremely important to the Greeks. She, like her brother, could cure anyone of a terrible disease. A sudden death was usually thought to have been Artemis shooting an arrow of hers at the diseased one. Artemis also held an important position in mythology and life. In one myth about Artemis, a man sees her bathing in the forest and she shoots him with an arrow that turns him into a deer. This myth is significant to the Greeks because its shows that gods are just like people, except more superior. She showed care for nature and animals, which helped the Greeks understand their values. She also cared for the moon, which was a big part of the explanation of the creation of earth and how it works. These myths describing Artemis have taught us about the importance of hunting, nature, and values in ancient Greece.

Bibliography

"Artemis." Britannica Elementary Encyclopedia. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. 29 Oct. 2007              <http://school.eb.com/all/elementary/article?articleId=352786>