| Artemis | |
|---|---|
 | |
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Real Name |
Artemis, Diana |
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First Appearance |
Ancient Greece |
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Created by |
Greek Folk Lore |
Origin[]
In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Artemis was the goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, wild animals, nature, vegetation, childbirth, care of children, and chastity. In later times, she was identified with Selene, the personification of the Moon. She was often said to roam the forests and mountains, attended by her entourage of nymphs. The goddess Diana is her Roman equivalent.
Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and the twin sister of Apollo. In most accounts, the twins are the products of an extramarital liaison. For this, Zeus' wife Hera forbade Leto from giving birth anywhere on land. Only the island of Delos gave refuge to Leto, allowing her to give birth to her children. In most accounts, Artemis is born first and then proceeds to assist Leto in the birth of the second twin, Apollo.
Artemis was one of the three major virgin goddesses alongside Athena and Hestia. Artemis preferred to remain an unmarried maiden and was one of the three Greek goddesses over whom Aphrodite had no power.
In the myth of Actaeon, when the young hunter sees her bathing naked, he is transformed into a deer by the angered goddess and is then devoured by his own hunting dogs, who do not recognize their master.
There are several versions of Orion's myth, One version was Artemis' hunting companion; after giving up on trying to find Oenopion, Orion met Artemis and her mother Leto, and joined the goddess in hunting. A great hunter himself, he bragged that he would kill every beast on earth. Gaia, the earth, was not too pleased to hear that, and sent a giant scorpion to sting him. Artemis then transferred him into the stars as the constellation Orion.
Another version was where Artemis fell in love with Orion, apparently the only time Artemis ever fell in love. She meant to marry him, and no talk from her brother Apollo would change her mind. Apollo then decided to trick Artemis, and while Orion was off swimming in the sea, he pointed at him (barely a spot in the horizon) and wagered that Artemis could not hit that small "dot". Artemis, ever eager to prove she was the better archer, shot Orion, killing him. She then placed him among the stars.
Frank Communale[]
Artemis, called in these stories by her Roman name of Diana, traveled from her home on Mount Olympus under orders from her father, Zeus, to protect Greece from the Nazis.
America's Best Comics[]
Artemis, called by her Roman name Diana, was discovered by American pilot Nick Dimetrios living all alone on a remote island. She falls in love with the pilot and asks him to stay with her on her island. Nick turns her down even though he also has feelings for because his responsibilities as an Air Force pilot.
She later saved Nick after his plane is shot down during a battle and again tried to convince him to stay with her, but he turns her down once again.
Afterward Nick is discharged and emitted to a hospital for claimed he was saved by a Greek goddess. Diana along with her father Zeus, called by his Roman name Jupiter, disguise themselves as mortals and find Nick who agrees to be with Diana. Her father offers to make Nick an immortal, but instead Diana choses to become mortal to be with her beloved.
The couple marry and have at least three children together. Diana also becomes a world champion archer.
Public Comic Domain Appearances[]
- Yellowjacket #1-10
- Humdinger vol. 1 #4
- Forbidden Worlds #55