Artemis and Wonder Woman

Throughout history stories of myth and legend have been told and retold through generations of oral and visual customs. Keeping up this very ancient tradition in a very modern way, today’s version of these tales are told through technology. Television, motion pictures and the internet are the new vehicles for expressing these classic tales. The value of ancient myth and legend is still apparent in society despite the very radical changes in the way they are expressed. An example of such transformation of story telling and the portrayal of classic literature and myth is the influence of the Greek goddess Artemis on the character of the popular comic book and television hero Wonder Woman.

Born of an affair between Zeus and Leto, Artemis is one of three maiden goddesses in Olympus. She is known as the lady of wild things and was greatly worshipped throughout the land.

Morford and Lenardon’s book, Classic Mythology, describes Artemis as a beautiful, chaste virgin of the hunt. (141). Artemis, the lover of wilderness and wild things, protector of the young and goddess of child birth is the twin sister of Apollo. Like Apollo, she hunts with a silver bow and arrow. Artemis is also known as the protecting deity of th

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In the Wonder Woman comic, a character called Artemis is introduced as Wonder Woman after her death. Both were raised and trained in the wild where they developed a skill for self defense, fighting and hunting. As Wonder Woman, Diana is an ambassador from the island of Themyscira to Patriarch's World, teaching a message of peace and equality by her own example. Artemis is the deity of the Amazon women. The Amazons of Greece would fight wars and hunt while the Amazons of Wonder Woman were a self sufficient non-violent people more dependant of agriculture with little to no enemies. Selene, the moon goddess and Artemis are closely associated with fertility. Though in the series Diana had a love interest, nothing substantial ever flourished. Neither Artemis nor Wonder Woman was found without their weapons.

Similarities

There are many similarities between the Greek goddess Artemis and Wonder Woman.

Both women were goddesses, born on islands. Her ties with childbirth are a result of being born from Leto with no pain. This was to protect them from Hera’s wrath.

Approximate Word count = 1577
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

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