From Artemis to Diana: The Goddess of Man and Beast (Acta Hyperborea)

The Greek goddess Artemis, and her Roman equivalent Diana, constitute a multifaceted divinity. In Greek mythology, she is the twin sister of Apollo and the virgin goddess who lives in the hills and the forests. She is potnia theron, the mistress of the animals, but she is also the goddess of child birth and fertility. This volume, from the series Acta Hyperborea, contains a wide range of contributions that cover such topics as the first mentioning of the goddess in the pre-historic sources, Homer and the Greek tragedies, Late Antiquity, and the post-antique perception of the goddess. Several of the articles concentrate on regional aspects, while others treat the iconography of the goddess, as well as the role of her cult and the rituals in the sanctuaries, both in the East and the West. Collectively, the contributions — written by classical archaeologists, philologists, and historians — offer one of the most comprehensive studies to date of the goddess.