Artemis or Αρτεμις in Greek, is the goddess of the moon, and the hunt, protector young girls upon the age of marriage or loss of maidenhood, and childbirth. Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and Leto. Her twin brother is Apollo or Ἀπόλλων. Her symbol of power is a golden bow and arrow. Her sacred animal is a deer. Her sacred plant is the Amaranth flower. She also had the uncanny ability to resist the company of men. She could tame wild animals and talk to wolves. During a hunt Artemis would be accompanied by young mortal maidens, Nymphs of all kinds, Naiads and Okeanides.
Once while she and her Nymphs were bathing in a secluded pool of water in a grove of Cypress. Actaeon, a young prince was wandering through the woods and came upon the Goddess while she was bathing. He hid behind some bushes and watched her. But the Goddess caught sight of the Prince spying on her. She sprang from the pool of water and grabbed for her bow but she had left it on the bank on the other side. She stormed up to him and yelled at him. She scoop up a handful of water and tossed it at him. The droplets of water were cursed and when it hit him it turned him into a deer.
He ran away frightened. He found his way back to his hunting party. But they did not recognize him and set his dogs upon him. They tore him to pieces with their teeth. They laughed and said how much Actaeon would have liked to see this prized animal wrestle with his dogs unknowing that they were watch their friend die before their eyes.
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