This is a modern-day photo by Robin Davis, created to look like an old book illustration
The goddess Artemis is the original loner, preferring the company of the moon and her hounds. She presides over the forest and is both the hunter and protector of the animals. Perhaps her aloofness and immortal right to be left alone only increase her mysterious allure.
Known by Diana to the Romans, her Greek title is Artemis, and her legend repeats again and again in much older cultures going far back into prehistory.
Artemis is a Moon Goddess of a very specific type, ruling over the cusp of the New Moon. This crescent is both the ending and beginning of the Lunar Cycle, and in this state of simultaneous death and rebirth, she is the Lady of the Forest and Queen of the Beasts, that are hers alone to hunt and also protect. As the goddess of beginnings, she governs thresholds, gates and crossroads, and is invoked for the protection of both mothers and children, and for a safe passage of birth into the world.
If you send her a Valentine, she will not open it, and in true goddess form, not even notice you at all. She is not concerned with what you think of her, nor is she to be distracted from her single minded focus… the trajectory of her silver arrows, that never miss their target, and never run out. Very different from cupid’s little bow, that shoots arrows of infatuation at the hearts of lovers soon to fade, hers represent total freedom of movement beyond the set boundaries others must obey. Nor do her arrows serve for war and the conflicts of men. Artemis remains the Archetype of feminine independence, the eternal maiden, confident and capable, free of the controls of relationship, a household, and civic society. Her home is outside in nature, and she is free of the bonds of love.
Ancient celebrations of the Ides of February were originally presided over by Jupiter’s wife, the Goddess Juno (The Greek Goddess was Hera, wife of Zeus) when traditions favored the pairing of couples, far from the ideology of Artemis, and her indifference to customs and causes. She argued openly with the love goddess Aphrodite that Romance never lasted.
Her mother Leto was a romantic conquest of Zeus, and Artemis was born as a twin, the feminine half, followed by her brother, Apollo the Sun, who’s light she reflects with her own eerie glow. Any god or mortal that disrespects or threatens her, or her mother, soon feels a quick and violent retaliation and the wrath of her silver arrows. Even as a child, she valued her self directed energy, and asked her Father Zeus to grant her immortal freedom and independence. This was not a saintly virtue of chastity, innocence or modesty, but rather an escape into herself, with better things to do than become mired in the confusion and directives of others. Bestowed with his gift, she flows with the ease of unfettered action, with her soaring arrows as symbols of her freedom as the eternal solitary huntress of the chase.
©2016 Faustina Noire
Image of Artemis – ©2016 Robin Davis