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Artemis (Greek: Ἄρτεμις) was the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and the
twin sister of Apollo. She was the goddess of hunt, animals, childbirth and
virginity.
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Artemis name could be related to Bear (Greek: Αρκτος), supported by the bear cult of the goddess in
Attica where a sanctuary was established in Brauron (Greek: Βραυρων)
since Iphigenia’s return from
the land of Taurus.
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Many gods and men were attracted to Artemis, but only her
hunting companion, Orion, won her heart. A scorpion sent by Apollo, who wanted to
protect his sister honor killed Orion, a giant and a legendary hunter. Apollo to appease his bereaving sister threw
Orion and his dog to heaven. Orion became
the most beautiful constellation and Sirius the brightest star in the winter
sky of the northern hemisphere. There
are many myths about Artemis and the bear; such as she became enraged when Callisto,
one of her nymphs who allowed Zeus to seduce her and bear him a son, Arcas, the
ancestor of Arcadians. Artemis changed her into a bear then shot and
killed her. As Orion, she was sent up to the heavens, and became the
constellation of the Great Bear (Ursa Major) commonly known as the Big Dipper. In an another myth, Artemis sent a wild boar to kill Adonis as
punishment for his hubristic boast that he was a better hunter than she.
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Artemisia I (Greek: Ἀρτεμισία) was
queen of Halicarnassus in Asia Minor, who allied and fought for Xerxes I, during the second Persian
invasion of Greece. She personally
commanded her fleet at the naval battles at Artemisium and allegedly was the
admiral of the Persian fleet at Salamis in 480 BC. Herodotus,
states that she was the only female commander on either side and praises her
decisiveness, intelligence, and courage.
The Great King Xerxes during the battle of Salamis said that if his men
fought like Artemisia, a woman, no army could stand in his way.
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Artemisia is a large, diverse
group of plants of the daisy family of Asteraceae. Artemisia species grow in temperate climates,
usually in dry or semiarid habitats. Notable species include A. annua
(sagewort), A. vulgaris (mugwort), A. tridentata (big sagebrush), A. absinthum
(wormwood), A. dracunculus (tarragon). Most species have strong aromas and bitter
tastes. Artemisin a compound found in A.
Annua has been used for medicinal purposes since the time of Hippocrates. Treatments containing artemisinin-combination
therapies are used in malaria while a recent study reports potential therapeutic
effects in breast cancer.
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New word!
ReplyDeleteHubristic: Adjective. The definition of hubristic is extremely arrogant behavior resulting from pride or passion. Someone who worked very hard to achieve a skill and thinks he is better than everyone else is an example of a person who is hubristic.
Once again, there is similarity in the story of Artemisia and Deborah in the bible. Deborah ranks among the most famous women of the Hebrew Bible, known to Christians as the Old Testament. Not only known for her wisdom, Deborah was also known for her courage. She is the only woman of the Hebrew Bible who gained renown on her own merit, not because of her relationship to a man.
Deborah was one of the rulers of the Israelites prior to the monarchy period that began with Saul (circa 1047 B.C.). These rulers were called "judges," an office that traced back to a time when Moses appointed assistants to help him resolve disputes among the Hebrews (Exodus 18). Their practice was to seek guidance from God through prayer and meditation before making a ruling. Therefore, many of the judges also were considered prophets who spoke "a word from the Lord."
Deborah lived somewhere about 1150 B.C., about a century or so after the Hebrews entered Canaan. Her story is told in the Book of Judges, Chapters 4 and 5. According to author Joseph Telushkin in his book Jewish Literacy, the only thing known about Deborah's private life was the name of her husband, Lapidot (or Lappidoth). There's no indication who Deborah's parents were, what kind of work Lapidot did, or whether they had any children.
Deborah Was A Warrior Woman as Well as a Judge
Having received instruction from God, Deborah summoned an Israelite warrior named Barak. She told him to take 10,000 troops up to Mount Tabor to confront Jabin's general, Sisera, who led an army made up of 900 iron chariots.
The Jewish Virtual Library says that Barak's response to Deborah "shows the high esteem in which this ancient prophetess was held." Other interpreters have said that Barak's response actually shows his discomfort at being ordered into battle by a woman, even if she was the ruling judge at the time. Barak said: "If you will go with me, I will go; if not I will not go" (Judges 4:8). In the next verse, Deborah agrees to go into battle with the troops, but tells him: "However, there will be no glory for you in the course you are taking, for then the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman" (Judges 4:9).
I understand the medicinal purpose of plants, I grow many herbs such as sage and tarragon and more.
This is all so very interesting, especially its origins.