Artemis is one of the major deities in Greek mythology. She is the goddess of the hunt, wilderness, childbirth, and virginity. According to mythology, Artemis was the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and the twin sister of Apollo. She is often depicted as a beautiful and powerful young woman, dressed in a short tunic and wearing a quiver of arrows on her back.
Artemis was worshiped throughout ancient Greece, with major temples dedicated to her in cities such as Ephesus and Brauron. Her worship was closely tied to the natural world, as she was the protector of the wilderness and all the animals that lived within it. As the goddess of childbirth, she was also a protector of women and children.
If you now ask yourself, why she has dominion over virginity AND childbirth, this dates back to the day the goddess herself was born. Since she was born first, it is said that shortly after, she aided her mother Leto during the birth of her twin brother Apollo. For herself however, she asked her father Zeus to be allowed to stay unmarried and a virgin, which he agreed to.
In order to worship Artemis, the ancient Greeks would offer sacrifices of animals such as deer, goats, and sheep. These sacrifices were made in her honor, and were often accompanied by prayers and other offerings. In addition to animal sacrifices, worshipers would also make offerings of flowers, fruit, and other items that were associated with the natural world.
The worship of Artemis was not limited to formal religious ceremonies, however. Many Greeks saw her as a personal protector and would pray to her for help in times of need. She was especially revered by young girls and unmarried women, who saw her as a symbol of purity and chastity.
In addition to her role as a protector of the natural world, Artemis was also associated with the moon. In fact, she was sometimes called "Phoebe," which means "bright" or "shining," in reference to the moon's light. This connection to the moon made her a powerful deity, as the ancient Greeks believed that the phases of the moon had a profound impact on their daily lives.
Today, Artemis is still worshipped by some modern Pagans and followers of Hellenic polytheism. While the traditional practices of animal sacrifice and other offerings are no longer widely practiced, many modern worshipers still honor Artemis through prayer, meditation, and offerings of flowers and other items.
Also devotional acts are taking on big role in modern worship. For Artemis you could go take a walk, enjoy nature, engage in animal rescue, donate to animal shelters or maybe try learning archery. (Be careful with this one though, its harder than it seems ;) )
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