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Ἄρτεμις

Ártemis

G735 noun

SILEX Entry

Root Ἀρτεμ- goddess Artemis, Artemis of Ephesus

Definition

Ἄρτεμις refers primarily to Artemis, a major Greek goddess associated with wilderness, wildlife, hunting, and, in some contexts, childbirth and virginity. In Hellenistic and Roman Asia Minor, particularly in Ephesus, Ἄρτεμις denotes the Anatolian mother goddess, identified locally with Artemis but distinguished by unique iconography and cult practices distinct from those in mainland Greece. The term thus signifies the goddess Artemis, but in Asia Minor, it can specifically reference the 'Artemis of Ephesus,' a syncretic deity blending Hellenic and Anatolian religious elements.

Semantic Range

Greek goddess of the hunt, wilderness, and virginity; Anatolian mother goddess as worshiped in Ephesus; referent for the deity worshiped at Ephesus and her temple; equivalent of the Roman Diana in Latin contexts

Root / Etymology

Root probably from an uncertain pre-Greek origin; sometimes connected with ἀρτεμής ('safe, uninjured'), though this is likely secondary and folk etymology. Classical sources do not agree on a definitive etymology; the origin is widely regarded as pre-Greek or Anatolian. Unrelated to ἀρτέμων ('mainsail').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greece, Artemis was worshipped as the virgin goddess of the hunt, wilderness, animals, and protector of young women, with cult centers at places like Brauron and Delos. Her iconography depicted her often with a bow and animals. In Asia Minor, most notably Ephesus, her cult absorbed local mother goddess traditions, giving rise to 'Artemis of Ephesus,' characterized in statuary by multiple protuberances (interpreted variously as breasts, eggs, or other symbols), elaborate dress, and a central temple (the Artemision). In Acts (19:24, 27, 28, 34, 35), Ἄρτεμις refers specifically to this Ephesian version, which Romans rendered as 'Diana.' The Latin Vulgate and some early Christian sources translated Artemis as 'Diana,' aligning her with the Roman moon goddess, though the Ephesian goddess differed markedly from the Roman and Greek depictions. English Bible translations often use 'Diana' in these passages, but this obscures the local, syncretic nature of the Ephesian deity. The uniqueness of the Ephesian Artemis in iconography and cult distinguishes her from the Artemis of classical Greek tradition. The name does not refer to a common noun but exclusively to the deity. There are no known uses of Ἄρτεμις in Jewish religious texts prior to the Hellenistic period. In the New Testament, usage is geographically and contextually specific to the cult of Ephesus. Related terms: Ἀρτεμίσιον (temple of Artemis), Ἀρτεμισιάζω (to celebrate the festival of Artemis).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably from the same as ἀρτέμων; prompt; Artemis, the name of a Grecian goddess borrowed by the Asiatics for one of their deities:--Diana.

Root Family

Ἄρτεμις (Artemis) — goddess Artemis, Artemis of Ephesus

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G735-01 Ἀρτέμιδος artemidos N GEN F SG Artemis of Artemis 3
G735-02 Ἄρτεμις artemis N NOM F SG Artemis Artemis 2

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G735-01 Acts 19:24 Ἀρτέμιδος artemidos N GEN F SG of Artemis of Artemis
G735-01 Acts 19:27 Ἀρτέμιδος artemidos N GEN F SG Artemis of Artemis
G735-02 Acts 19:28 Ἄρτεμις artemis N NOM F SG Artemis Artemis
G735-02 Acts 19:34 Ἄρτεμις artemis N NOM F SG Artemis Artemis
G735-01 Acts 19:35 Ἀρτέμιδος artemidos N GEN F SG Artemis of Artemis
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