| “ | If we destroy heroes who do us a great favor, then we are no better than the Titans. If this is Olympian justice, I will have none of it. | ” |
–Artemis to the other Olympians, in The Titan's Curse | ||
Artemis is the Greek virgin goddess of the hunt, the Moon, chastity, animals, and the wilderness. She and her twin brother Apollo are known as the "Twin Archers." Artemis' handmaidens are known as the Hunters of Artemis, a group of young women that have turned their back from the company of men and have pledged themselves to the goddess. Her Roman counterpart is Diana.
History
Zeus, her father.
Artemis was the first born child of Zeus and Leto. Her mother was forbidden by a jealous Hera, to give birth anywhere on earth or anywhere the sun shines, but the floating island of Delos was an exception. Immediately after her birth, Artemis helped her mother deliver Apollo which is why she is sometimes called a Goddess of Childbirth, even though she is a virgin goddess.
When she was three years old, Artemis asked her father to grant her a wish. She desired (among other things) a silver bow and the choice to remain a maiden for all eternity like her Aunt Hestia. She held a passion for hunting and wanted to roam the wilderness forever. As Artemis was Zeus' favorite daughter and he held a special pride for her, Zeus granted her wish. He also took a vow on the River Styx that he would never force her to marry or have children.
Orion
Artemis would only come close to forswearing her vow of chastity once: when she met a talented huntsman named Orion. After traveling throughout Greece, the young demigod settled on the island of Delos where he became a favorite of Leto and eventually gained the trust of Artemis as well. Orion became a frequent hunting companion of the goddess, spending much of his time in her company. The pair grew closer and closer to each other until the huntsman was considered to be the most loyal and valued of her attendants. However, Apollo quickly recognized Orion's feelings for his sister and knew that Artemis was beginning to return them as well. Consumed by a jealous rage, he sent a giant scorpion to attack the hunter and then tricked Artemis into shooting him when he fled into the sea. Anguished and distraught over what she had done, a heartbroken Artemis transformed her beloved partner into a constellation to honor his memory.
Other myths
Many stories were told of Artemis defending her virginity from others, including the giant Otis, who had tried to seize her for his wife. Others such as Actaeon were punished for accidentally seeing her nude. Many of Artemis' myths placed her in the role of an avenger, causing quick deaths to her victims with her silver arrows, such as she did to Niobe's daughters, while Apollo shot down her sons.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
The Titan's Curse
Artemis, along with the Hunters of Artemis, help Percy Jackson and his friends when they face the manticore, Dr. Thorn, at Westover Hall. She then goes on a mission west to hunt the Ophiotaurus, and promises Percy that she will look for Annabeth Chase, who had been taken by the manticore, w
Percy Jackson, a man whom Artemis respects.
hilst hunting. She is captured by the General, Atlas, and is used to lure Percy and his friends west to save Annabeth. Artemis was convinced to hold the sky, in pity to Annabeth. Artemis could not simply stand by and watch a young maiden die, and she takes the sky from Annabeth.
As Percy, Thalia Grace, and Zoë Nightshade arrive to rescue her, Zoë gives her life to stop Atlas from stabbing Artemis. Meanwhile, Percy takes the sky from Artemis so she can fight Atlas, as Percy was no match for the Titan. During the fight, Artemis forces Atlas back and he is eventually pushed back under the sky as Percy rolls out of the way. Zoë then dies from the stab wound and gash that Ladon gave her, and in honor of her memory, Artemis creates a constellation of her in the sky. Artemis, Percy, Thalia and Annabeth return to Mount Olympus for the winter solstice. She is the first to suggest plans for war preparations against the Titans, and appears fair and honest, as she is horrified at the vote of whether or not to destroy Percy, as he risked his life for them and stands up for him against the other Olympians when they vote.
The Battle of the Labyrinth
When Percy is fighting Geryon, the only way to defeat him was with an arrow (to kill Geryon all three bodies must be killed at the same time). Being a terrible shot, Percy asks Artemis and Apollo to guide his arrow and the arrow manages to kill Geryon. As thanks, Percy offers a part of Geryon's barbecue to the gods after defeating the three-headed giant. Percy later learns that it was Hera that guided his arrow, not the archer twins.
The Last Olympian
Artemis appears again when she battles Typhon. Her hunters help the campers of Camp Half-Blood fight against Kronos' army. One of her hunters, Thalia, had a statue of Hera fall on her legs during the Battle of Manhattan. In the council, after Kronos was defeated, she convinced Hades to send her deceased Hunters to the Underworld realm of Elysium and congratulates Thalia on defending Manhattan.
The Heroes of Olympus
The Lost Hero
Artemis is noted to be one of the gods who disagreed with Zeus' decision to close Olympus. She sent out her Hunters to search for Percy, showing that she was still interfering in mortal affairs.
The Son of Neptune
When Percy sees Mount Tam, Hazel Levesque tells him about how Camp Jupiter attacked the Titan base there. Percy remembers another time he was there with Artemis, Zoë, and Thalia fighting Atlas, but he couldn't remember their names and the memory soon leaves him.
It is also mentioned by Hylla as she explains to Hazel difference between the Hunters and the Amazons.
The House of Hades
When Percy sees her grandfather, the Titan Koios he notes that he has Artemis' cold eyes.
The Blood of Olympus
Leo, Frank and Hazel travel to the island of Delos to find the final ingredient to The Physician's Cure from Apollo, they are also greeted by Artemis.
Personality
Artemis possesses a deep caring for maidens, especially for maidens whom she presides over. Unlike her twin, she is less "easy-going" and more focused with a much greater understanding of mortals than most of the other Olympians. Although she is reasonable, Artemis holds a general dislike of men although she does acknowledge and respect those who prove themselves to her, such as Orion, Hippolytus, and Percy Jackson. Artemis is shown to be an independent goddess who prefers the company of her hunters to even that of other gods. She loves hunting and is associated with the moon, which Apollo mentioned happened during the Roman era when the former goddess of the moon faded. Artemis is among the more sympathetic Olympians and weighs individuals by their actions and choices as opposed to their potential. However, there is a darker side to Artemis, as shown in Percy Jackson's Greek Gods, when she transforms Actaeon into a stag after he saw her naked. Though many women in that situation would have assumed Actaeon planned to rape her and she defended herself accordingly. Furthermore, Artemis banished Callisto from among her Huntresses and transformed her into a bear, after the latter was seduced and impregnated by Zeus (the transformation was largely because Callisto did not come forward and tell Artemis about the seduction and pregnancy).
Appearance
Artemis in Percy Jackson's Greek Gods
She can appear as whatever she likes, and whatever age she likes, but chooses to be the average age of her Hunters, which is around twelve, though in the film she is seen as a full grown woman. She has auburn hair and eyes as silvery yellow as the moon, and is incredibly beautiful. Percy describes her face as breathtakingly beautiful. Her cabin is number eight at Camp Half-Blood, which is mostly noted for its silver color and silver aura that shines during the night when the moon rises. Artemis often travels in a silver chariot pulled by golden reindeer with silver horns.
Diana
Diana
Artemis can change her aspect into her Roman counterpart of Diana. As Diana, she becomes more disciplined, militaristic, and warlike, as most Roman gods tend to be. The Greeks envisioned Artemis as an independent and vigorous goddess of the wilderness and hunt while the Romans depicted Diana additionally as the goddess of the moon.
Abilities
As a daughter of Zeus, Artemis is an extremely powerful goddess.
- Prowess in Battle: Artemis is shown to be very formidable in battle, due to her amazing agility and expertise with fighting with a bow and arrow, as well as her long hunting knives. Artemis is shown to be able to hold her own against very strong opponents, even the Titan General Atlas (though he did have the upper hand through the majority of their duel). Due to her skill in battle, she was trusted by Zeus to kill any powerful monsters Kronos would try to recruit in The Titan's Curse.
- Archery: As the goddess of archery, Artemis is a very powerful archer. She also excels in other target-shooting-based activities, such as basketball. Her arrows strike anyone, no matter how far they are. Her skills only rivaled by her brother Apollo, and the giant Orion.
- Enhanced Hunting: As the goddess of the hunt, Artemis has the same advanced hunting powers her Hunters have, but extremely increased.
- She has the ability to control animals associated with hunting, such as wolves and hawks.
- She has enhanced speed, aim, and precision, since she was able to split the Manticore's spikes in-midair.
- She has a dynamic camouflage ability.
- She can replenish the animals she kills.
- She can transform ordinary things into things associated with hunting. In Percy Jackson's Greek Gods, she transforms Actaeon into a stag.
- She can help heroes more directly since wild animals and monsters are in her domain.
- Photokinesis: As the goddess of the moon, she has absolute control over moonlight.
- She can shoot shafts of moonlight.
- She can see clearly in the dark.
- Wilderness: As the goddess of the wilderness, she has absolute control over the plants and animals in her domain.
- She can turn into any animal.
- As the goddess of animals, she has divine authority over them.
- She can communicate with animals.
- Creating Constellations: Artemis can transform people into constellations once they have passed, such as Zoë Nightshade and Orion.
Items
She has silver bow and arrows, a pair of hunting knives and a silver chariot which she rides in pulled by four golden deer with silver horns. This later gave mortals the idea of Santa Claus.
Goddess of the Hunt and the Moon
Artemis has two sides of her, the fierce and lively goddess of the Hunt and the mysterious and serene goddess of the Moon. In her two sides, she is mostly seen as the Goddess of Hunt, where she wears a short tunic with her hair into a ponytail, holding a bow and quiver and mostly with her golden stag. When she is the Goddess of the Moon, she wears a long gossamer dress and has her hair held up.
Relationships
Percy Jackson
Percy seems to be one of the few male heroes that Artemis approves. She seems to know of his deeds before The Titan's Curse, which results in her not turning him into a jackalope when they first meet. Artemis also views him as mildly amusing and tolerates his ignorance in some cases. Artemis' respect for Percy grew when he saved her from the weight of the sky to allow her to fight Atlas. This also played into part when Artemis voted heavily to reward the heroes when the other gods voted for their deaths.
In The Lost Hero, is said that Artemis secretly sent her Hunters on a mission to find him and bring him back to Olympus.
Leto
Artemis, along with her twin brother, Apollo, showed a great love for their mother, Leto. An example of this is shown when Queen Niobe insulted Leto, and Artemis and Apollo sought revenge. They killed Niobe's seven daughters and seven sons. It is said that Artemis spared the youngest daughter of Niobe. It is also said that the gods took pity on Niobe and turned her into stone.
Apollo, her twin
Apollo
Artemis is mostly seen as to be annoyed and distant from Apollo, maybe because of her strict attitude towards men and him for being so carefree. Though in most parts they are shown to be arguing, Artemis and Apollo show a strong bond between siblings, as depicted in The Titan's Curse when Apollo breaks the law in helping Percy to save Artemis.
Zoë Nightshade
Zoë Nightshade was the former Lieutenant of the Hunters. Zoë was fiercely loyal to Artemis ever since she became a Huntress. Despite knowing that she would be the one to "die by a parent's hand", she went on the quest because she desperately wanted to save Artemis. When Zoë died, Artemis turned her into a constellation-"the Huntress"- depicting a girl with a bow running across the night sky. Artemis was so upset by Zoë's death that she flickered with silver light.
Orion
Orion was one of the rare males to gain Artemis' favor and the only man to ever gain her affection. He was the sole exception to the goddess' exclusively female group of hunters. When he died, Artemis made him into a constellation to show her love and respect for him.
The Hunters
Thalia Grace, her lieutenant
The Hunters are Artemis' handmaidens, young maidens who are given the gift of immortality, or rather technically the gift of eternal youth, the skill of archery, superhuman strength, speed and dexterity. The Hunters had a choice whether to be this way or remain normal. A hunter must not fall in love or rather more specifically, lose her maidenhood, for she loses her immortality as a result dies, or she will die in battle. They are the closest thing to children Artemis has. While the Hunters cannot die of natural causes, they can be killed, albeit more difficult to do so.
Notable Hunters
- Zoë Nightshade (deceased)
- Thalia Grace
- Bianca di Angelo (deceased)
- Phoebe (deceased)
Being a Virgin Goddess
- Main article: Virgin goddesses
Artemis - Selene - Hecate
Artemis is one of the virgin goddesses on Mount Olympus besides Athena and Hestia.
Hestia, Athena, and Artemis made an oath on the River Styx to Zeus saying that they would not marry and would stay virgins for eternity.
Artemis is one of the goddesses that make up the triple goddess symbol:
- The Maiden- waxing moon- Artemis, represents the huntress on earth
- The Mother- full moon- Selene, represents the moon in the heavens
- The Crone- waning moon- Hecate, represents the Underworld
Artemis' Chariot
- Main article: Artemis' Chariot
Artemis' chariot can fly. Artemis' chariot is made out of silver and pulled by four golden horned deer. The bridles of her chariot are made out of silver as well. Her chariot gave mortals the idea of Santa Claus.
Film
The Lightning Thief
Artemis was played by Ona Grauer in The Lightning Thief. She was only seen once in the film, in the throne room of Olympus on the Summer solstice.
Ona Grauer as Artemis.
Trivia
- Originally Artemis was the Goddess of Dawn and Frost. Although after a while her dominion over both went to Eos as she was the dawn personified.
- In myth, the sole reason Artemis was sometimes considered a goddess of the moon because others perceived her to be either Selene or Hecate.
- In The Titan's Curse, it is said she likes to turn boys who see the Hunters' camp into jackalopes.
- In The Titan's Curse, she had found a respect for Percy and even called him a 'man' instead of a 'boy' after she and Annabeth were rescued. This respect went so far as to have the Hunters search for Percy.
- Artemis, being the goddess of Hunt, has a collection of furs belonging to many creatures, some maybe extinct since Percy didn't know some of them that were hanging in Artemis' tent.
- She has temples or shrines in Olympus as seen in The Last Olympian when Thalia stated this after seeing Kronos destroy a shrine to Artemis.
- A minor planet, (105) Artemis, a lunar crater, the Artemis Chasma and the Artemis Corona (both on Venus) have all been named after her.
- 78 Diana, an asteroid, is named after her Roman counterpart.
- Diana, a crater on moon, is named after her Roman counterpart.
- Artemis is the only goddess that is described as having auburn hair.
- Artemis has placed two people in the stars: Orion and Zoë. Though one source says Zeus put Orion in the stars, as one of Artemis' requests.
- Artemis is one of only two current Olympians who is a virgin.
- Though she is said to be the protector of young women, she is said to have been appeased of crimes by the sacrifice of young women, such as Agamemnon's daughter Iphigenia.
- However, some versions say Artemis took Iphidenia from the pyre seconds before it was lit (without Agamemnon or his men being aware). Artemis could have only pretended to want young women sacrificed while secretly rescuing them (not just from the pyres but from whatever society they lived in).
- Artemis loved Orion even though she's a virgin goddess.
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