Legends of Greece and Rome
Apollo and Artemis
Apollo and Artemis were twins, fathered by Zeus to the Titaness Leto.
Apollo
Apollo was the epitome of Greek male beauty. He was a master of medicine and art. He was incapable of telling lies and falsehoods, this meant that the oracles of Apollo were the most trusted in ancient Greece. Apollo knew every evil that took place anywhere and how it could be stopped. His oracle was consulted on many different issues from land disputes to plague and disease. Apollo was however still a god and posessed traits which did not correspond with his reputation for justice.
One day the Satyr 'Marsyas' came across a flute that had been discarded by Athena. He practiced on it and eventually became so good at playing it that he challenged Apollo to a contest. Apollo agreed and let Marsyas play knowing that he could not compare with Apollo's own talent. The contest was judged by the nine Muses who announced that Apollo was the winner. Apollo was not satisfied by this however. Despite his wisdom and talent, he was still petulent and disliked having his talents questioned. And so he strung Marsyas to a tree and skinned him alive.
Artemis
Artemis, like Athena was a chaste goddess. Despite this she was the goddess of childbirth as she helped to deliver Apollo as soon as she had been born. She is best known as the goddess of the hunt. She was strong and agile, equal in the hunt to any of the male gods and a fair opponent to Ares in battle.
Artemis detested marital infidelity and punished crimes of infidelity and rape, especially that of virgins. This to Artemis was an unforgivable crime. She was the goddess of human rights and fought for the causes of the just, the meek, the defiled vigins and the underdogs. She and her brother Apollo (god of truth and prophecy) illustrated the classical conception of justice. The most famous story involving Artemis shows how her stubborn beliefs could cause suffering to the innocent.
Artemis was beautiful but had sworn that no man would ever see her naked. One day she was bathing in a stream when the huntsman Actaeon came across her. He could not resist the urge to look at the goddess so he hid himself in the bushes and watched her.
Artemis discovered him and at first was tempted to let him go. Then she thought about him bragging to his peers later and decided to turn him into a great stag so that he could not tell his tale. Unfortunately Actaeon was immediatly ripped apart by his own hunting dogs. This story shows how any cause, however righteous, may be taken to extremes and cause the suffering of innocents.
Source: 'Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome'
Morgan J. Roberts
