The pantheon of Roman pagan gods includes 12 main representatives of the female and male. In this article we will find out who the goddess Diana is. And get acquainted with goddesses similar to her, found in the mythology of other countries.
The ancient goddess Diana
Roman myths say that Diana is the daughter of Latona (titanide, the goddess of the night and all that is hidden) and Jupiter (the god of thunder, sky, daylight). She has a twin brother, Apollo.
In paintings and illustrations, Diana is depicted in a flowing tunic. Her body is slender, long hair falls over her shoulders or is collected on the back of her head. In her hands she holds a bow or spear. In the images, the maiden is almost always accompanied by a dog or deer.
First of all, in Roman mythology, Diana is the goddess of hunting, fertility. The personification of femininity and beauty. Her direct duty is to protect nature, to patronize it, to maintain balance. Over time, the maiden began to be perceived as the goddess of the moon.
Diana is famous for her chastity. Myths say that once her nymph Callisto was seduced by Jupiter. The girl became pregnant. When Diana found out about this, she turned the unfortunate into a bear and set a bunch of dogs on her. Fortunately, Callisto was saved by the sky god, who turned her into the constellation Ursa Major.
Worship of diana
The goddess Diana was venerated in Rome in a very peculiar way. To begin with, it is worth noting that the worship of the goddess of hunting did not gain popularity among the ruling classes. But, thanks to the fact that her first temple was erected in a place inhabited by the poor, she became the patroness of slaves and people with a small income.
It is known that worship of Diana sometimes required human sacrifice. For example, any runaway slave or criminal could get shelter in the sanctuary of the hunting goddess, located near Lake Nemi. However, this required becoming a priest, which was tantamount to killing his predecessor.
Myths about Diana
One of the myths is associated with the worship of Diana. It was believed that the marvelous white cow of the shepherd Antron possesses wonderful properties. He who sacrifices her in a temple on Aventina will receive unlimited power over the whole world.
Upon learning of this legend, King Tullius, with the help of the priest of the temple of Diana, took control of a cow by deception. And he personally sacrificed it. For centuries, the animal’s horns adorned the walls of the temple.
Another myth tells of the unfortunate young man Acteon, who was unlucky to see the goddess Diana bathing.
Once, Acteon and his friends were hunting in the forest. The heat was terrible. Friends stopped in the thicket of the forest to relax. Actaeon, along with hunting dogs, went in search of water.
The young man did not know that the forests of Kiferon are the possessions of the goddess Diana. After a short trip, he came across a stream and decided to proceed to its source. The flow of water began in a small grotto.
Actaeon entered the grotto and saw the nymphs who prepared Diana for bathing. The virgins quickly covered the goddess, but it was too late - the young man managed to see the beauty of the naked patroness of the hunters.
As a punishment, the goddess Diana turned him into a deer. The frightened young man did not immediately realize what had happened to him. He rushed back to the stream and only there, seeing his reflection, he realized what trouble he was in. Smelling the game, Acteon's dogs attacked him and bit him.
Goddess Diana in Greek mythology
As you know, the Roman and Greek pantheon of gods are similar. Many gods perform the same functions, but are called differently.
The Greek goddess Diana is known as Artemis (the patroness of hunting and all life on earth). She is also identified with Hecate (the goddess of moonlight, the underworld, all secret) and Selena (goddess of the moon).
Diana also bore the name "Trivia", which means "goddess of the three roads." Images of the hunter were placed at intersections.
Diana in art
The image of Diana (Artemis) was widely used in literature, painting, sculpture.
The Greek version of the goddess is mentioned in the works of Homer and Euripides. The heroine Jeffrey Chaucer from the Canterbury Tales raises her prayers. Heroes, written by Virgil's pen, have a story about the seduction of Diana Pan.
Often her image was used in the plays by the great William Shakespeare. We meet Diana in Pericles, Prince of Tyrus, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing.
Diana is also popular among artists, sculptors. In their works, they mainly illustrated mythological subjects.
The list of paintings with a hunter in the title role, written by the most famous artists, include the following works: “Diana bathing with her nymphs” by Rembrandt, “Diana and Callisto” by Titian, “Diana and her nymph retreating from the hunt” by Rubens.
Famous sculptural images of the patroness of nature belong to Christoph Gabriel Allegrain, August Saint-Godens.
Sculptures of unknown ancient Greek authors have reached our days. The goddess of hunting is depicted on them as a slender, warlike girl. Her hair is gathered from behind, her body is covered with a tunic. Holding a bow in his hands, a quiver behind his back. Accompanying the goddess deer.
The image of Diana is actively used in modern films, games, television series.