Artemis

Sister of Apollo, daughter of Zeus and Leto, Artemis stands forever between the wilderness she so loves and the women of the World, whom she is sworn to defend. Disdaining the love of men, she has never married, and by the assent of Zeus she never shall. She surrounds herself with maidens to serve her, guarding her hunting dogs and bow as she rests. When she descends from the mountains and forests, it is to watch over the rites that usher young girls into womanhood, and to bring relief to women in childbirth — or to take their lives, for as a Goddess of healing she is also a Goddess of plague.

Diana’s cult in Rome is ancient, dating back to the founding and perhaps before. Similar in many ways to her Greek identity, among Romans she ensured succession as well as childbirth, and her temples were sanctuary to plebeians and slaves.

The modern World, though, is quite different from ancient Greece. More and more, the works of man impinge upon her sacred wilderness — more and more, she must travel to distant lands to hunt. So too has the World given her tenfold and more women to watch over. Any who claim womanhood are hers to defend, and Artemis is no slouch. Her hand can be seen at work in 1,000 struggles for liberation — more than any other Goddess of the Theoi, she is apt to throw herself into the fray. She has changed subtly in that time, a little older and a little wiser, but ever the huntress, and ever ready to draw back her bowstring and let fly vengeance and justice.