The Greek Goddess Artemis (also known as Diana to the Romans) is a lunar deity of the hunt, chastity, childbirth, archery, and the wilds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She is a patroness and protector of women and young children, and, in modern times, often viewed as a patroness of lesbians and asexual people. She swore to never marry and preferred to roam the woods with an entourage of hounds and nymphs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It may seem strange for a goddess of chastity to also be associated with childbirth, but the circumstances of Artemis’ own birth were anything but normal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She is the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and Zeus was known for his extramarital shenanigans. When Hera, his wife, found out that Leto was pregnant, she forbade her from giving birth anywhere on land. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The island of Delos (near Mykonos) took pity on Leto and allowed her ashore to have her children. Artemis was born first and subsequently assisted her mother in giving birth to her twin brother, Apollo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Artemis never had any desire to marry or lose her virginity, and Aphrodite’s<\/a> powers of lust had no effect on her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When a mortal hunter, Actaeon, spied on Artemis when she was bathing, the Goddess turned him into a stag for his insolence. His own dogs, not recognizing their master, turned on him and tore him to pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n