Description:
Artemis is a literary, iconographic, and archaeological study of the ancient Greek goddess of transitions, who presided over virginity and fertility, cruelty and child care, the wilds and the civilized, the hunt and the birth bower. Beginning with a study of the early origins of Artemis and her cult in the Bronze and Archaic Ages, this book explores the goddess's persona and her role in the lives of her Greek worshippers.
Review Quotes:
"Stephanie Budin's Artemis is a richly detailed and engaging study that offers a welcome contribution to the fields of Greek religion and mythology. Expertly weaving together evidence from literary texts and inscriptions, archaeology and the visual arts, Budin uncovers the many meanings and layers of Artemis through her origin stories, her iconic roles as virgin and huntress, and her mediating function as a goddess of critical female transitions. With the passion and wit of a great teacher, Budin convincingly demonstrates that the worship of Artemis was truly a life-or-death matter for the ancient Greeks." - Monica S. Cyrino, University of New Mexico
"Although principally writing for undergraduates, historian Budin not only surveys the current scholarship but also argues for revisions; most compellingly, that Artemis was not associated with warfare, and that the evidence claimed for that view is from the Roman period, or is methodologically flawed. While rigorous, the volume remains clear and approachable: all Greek is translated; arguments based on Greek language are judiciously chosen and lucid. An important book for collections supporting study of mythology, religion, and literature, and likely to appeal to a broader audience...Summing Up: Highly recommended." - P. E. Ojennus, Whitworth University, CHOICE