Classical Studies 2200 Lecture 9: Artemis & Apollo
16 Oct 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Discussion of Artemis continued:
o Apollo is Artemis’ brother. Neither appear in the Linear B
o God/goddesses of hunting are an extremely old concept. Likely due to
memories of hunter-gatherer societies.
- Artemis is both a protector of animals and a hunter of animals
- Such a god/goddess must be pleased in order to guarantee the success
of the hunt (This is central to survival in such subsistence societies)
▪ Agamemnon brags that he is a better hunter than Artemis
(hubris)– results in Artemis preventing the fleet from sailing - she
demands the sacrifice of Iphigenia
→ Aeschylus’ description of this event does not mention the
boast of Agamemnon
❖ May refer to a primitive version of this myth. The
hunting goddess requires a sacrifice equal to the
hunt/victory – in this case the hunt/victory over Troy
o Ephesian Artemis (Image on PPT)
- Artemis is standing, and is either covered in breasts (word: Polymastos)
or testicles (testicles of slain sacrificial bulls)
- If breasts, would suggest nurturing.
- If bull’s testicles, would perhaps suggest sacrifice (which is common in
her cult practices – e.g. scourging a victim until blood is drawn – likely a
stand in for human sacrifice)
Both Apollo and Artemis are responsible in myth for sudden deaths. Apollo for
men, Artemis for women.
o Niobe: had 7 daughters and 7 sons.
- Boasted that she was more productive as mother than Leto (Artemis
and Apollo’s mother) - Hubris
- Leto sent her two children to kill Niobe’s children.
- Niobe turns into a weeping stone.
Nausicaa is compared to Artemis in the Odyssey (due to her being beautiful,
virginal, and ready for marriage)
o Artemis is the paradigm for the maiden ready for marriage.
Worship of Artemis:
o Connected with initiation cult
- Puberty initiation cult
- All major transitions in Greek life (birth, death, etc.) are attached to
some sort of ceremony
▪ This is the same in the transition from maiden to matron
→ Artemis plays significant role on this.
o Numerous myths that associate Artemis with the aforementioned transition
- Brauon
▪ Aristophanes references a Braronia
▪ Iphigenia is sometimes seen as a preliminary sacrifice — i.e., a
payment for great success
- Callisto
▪ Artemis is often given young women as followers, such as Callisto,
or Nymphs in lieu of mortals.
▪ Raped by Zeus, and thus no longer a maiden. Cast away from
Artemis’ company.
▪ Gives birth to Arcas, who is the ancestor of the Arcadians.
- Actaeon
▪ Ovid recalls this story
▪ Many versions state that his crime was seeing Artemis naked.
→ Earlier versions suggest that he was punished for an
attempt rape of an aunt.
▪ Myth refers to the aforementioned initiation cult
→ Virgins must be protected from the male view
o Cults often bring men and women together by bringing in a male figure in
myth.
- Hippolytus (Euripides, Hippolytus)
▪ Follower of Artemis - fanatically devoted to remaining a virgin,
and is hostile to any sexual acts.
▪ He refuses to have anything to do with Aphrodite
▪ She punishes him by having his step mother fall desperately in
love with him
→ Some versions have the step mother, and others a maid,
come to Hippolytus – in both versions Hippolytus turns
down the sexual advance.
→ She then accuses him of rape and kills herself.
Document Summary
Discussion of artemis continued: apollo is a(cid:396)te(cid:373)is(cid:859) (cid:271)(cid:396)othe(cid:396). Neithe(cid:396) appea(cid:396) i(cid:374) the li(cid:374)ea(cid:396) b: god/goddesses of hunting are an extremely old concept. Artemis is both a protector of animals and a hunter of animals. Aes(cid:272)h(cid:455)lus(cid:859) des(cid:272)(cid:396)iptio(cid:374) of this e(cid:448)e(cid:374)t does (cid:374)ot (cid:373)e(cid:374)tio(cid:374) the boast of agamemnon. May refer to a primitive version of this myth. The hunting goddess requires a sacrifice equal to the hunt/victory in this case the hunt/victory over troy: ephesian artemis (image on ppt) Artemis is standing, and is either covered in breasts (word: polymastos) or testicles (testicles of slain sacrificial bulls) If (cid:271)ull(cid:859)s testicles, would perhaps suggest sacrifice (which is common in her cult practices e. g. scourging a victim until blood is drawn likely a stand in for human sacrifice) Both apollo and artemis are responsible in myth for sudden deaths. Apollo for men, artemis for women: niobe: had 7 daughters and 7 sons.
