Skip navigation.

Invocation

Artemis, who's name generally means "Lady of the wild things", is also invoked by the names of Artemis Medeia, Ephesian Artemis, Lygodesma, Caryatis (chestnut), Cedreatis (cedar), Artemis Limnatis, Artemis Orthia, Artemis Korythalia (may bough), Artemis Potniatheron (mistress of the wild animals), Cynthia, Kourotrophos (nurse), Agrotera (huntress), Locheia (helper in childbirth), Britomartis (sweet maid), and Artemis Leucphryene. Artemis is sometimes associated with Selene and Hekate in one of the very few maiden / mother / crone groupings in the Hellenic culture (most triple goddess associations are three maidens such as Artemis, Aphrodite and Athena).

Influence

Artemis is the goddess of the wilderness, wild creatures, protector of children and protector of women (especially in childbirth). In blessing, she gives wild flowers, peace of mind, wild fruit and game animals. She is sometimes cruel and sometimes kind (just as nature is cruel or kind). She allows hunting for food as long as the animals are not allowed to suffer and are given a quick death. She becomes angered at cruelty to animals, children or women and, in her anger, gives sudden deaths, attacks from animals, loneliness and inability to form relationships.

Priesthood

Priestess of Artemis are young, virgin girls called bears or bees. Priests are either wanderers or sterile. The beauty of Artemis, her priestesses and her nymphs must never be exposed or violated. Her celebrations usually include wild dances (with women and men) in the wilderness or around a bonfire. Some celebrations, such as Panspermia, include going from door to door offering fruit, wine and loaves of bread stamped with figures of animals. This confers good luck on the household with the words "Take the good luck, take the health-bread which we bring from the goddess".

Offerings

Rituals for Artemis contain wild uninhibited dances, long walks in the woods, cleaning up trash and pollution in the wilds, and wearing masks of wild animals or old, ugly women. Upon marriage, women offer their childhood toys, clothing and belongings to Artemis. After a kill, hunters hang the skin and horns on a tree as an offering to Artemis. Even though the priestesses of Artemis are young, we can return to Artemis at any age when we need an alternative to the stresses of civilization.

SOURCES: