Artemis is one of the venerated Greek Goddesses in Greek mythology and is considered a goddess of childbirth. She and her twin brother Apollo are said to be protectors of the girl and boy child respectively. Artemis is typically depicted in art and sculptures as a woman dressed in knee length chiton carrying hunting bows and a quiver of arrows.

Here are some astounding facts about Artemis.

• Greek mythology states that that Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and Leto.

• She and her brother Apollo are said to have been born in Delos Island under a palm tree.

• Other duties of Artemis as goddess are overlooking hunting, wild animals, representing wilderness, childbirth and virginity.

• In some depictions, Artemis is shown riding a chariot drawn by six stags and her hunting dogs.

• She is herself a virgin Goddess as she did not like men and did not believe in the institution of marriage because it caused women to lose their freedom.

• Zeus granted Artemis six wishes as a child which included her wish for virginity, to be known by many names, to be the Light Bringer, have her own set of bow and arrows along with a knee length tunic to aid her in hunting and to have sixty daughters, all nine years of age and 20 Amnisides Nymphs who would serve as handmaidens to Artemis and lastly the power to help women in childbirth.

• Artemis did not desire to have any city to be specifically named in her honour but to rule over the mountains and forests, amidst nature where her heart lies.

• The deer and cypress are considered sacred and representative of Artemis.

• Artemis is also considered to be the Roman goddess counterpart of Diana. In Hellenistic times that came much later, Artemis assumed the role of Eilethyia, who also aided in childbirth.

• Artemis is said to have sided with the Trojans in the Trojan War just like her brother Apollo.

• In the Iliad, Artemis came in conflict with Hera, Zeus’ wife where she was hit by an Arrow from her own quiver by Hera.

• One of Aura’s twin sons was saved by Artemis while the other was eaten by Aura herself as she had borne them having been raped by Dionysius.

• She is often seen with a lunar crescent on her brows, when she is depicted to be hunting.

• Artemis punished the nymph Callisto by changing her into a bear when Zeus had impregnated her.

• Actaeon who had looked upon Artemis when she was bathing was also punished by being turned into a stag and then he was killed by his own hunting dogs.

• Mythology states that she was vain of her beauty and often punished those who claimed to be more beautiful than her.

Epheseus, a city located in modern day Turkey is said to have the first known temple built in honour of Goddess Artemis. It was built by the Persian King Croesus of Lydia. The temple consists of 127 Ionic columns, each measuring 60 feet in height and all of it except for the roof is made of marble.