The Origins of the Twin Gods
Welcome back, Greeks and Geeks! Today, I am going to be telling you the story of the twin Gods, Artemis and Apollo. This will be a two-part post, so check the main page of my blog to see part two!
Artemis and Apollo are the children of Leto and Zeus. Artemis is the Goddess of the Hunt and the Moon, in addition to nature, chastity, and childbirth. Apollo is the God of the Sun, the arts, divination, and healing.
Leto is the daughter of Titans Croesus and Phoebe, so she herself had some immortal powers, but the reason she became well known was because of her relationship with Zeus and how Zeus’s wife, Hera, reacted to their relationship.
When Hera learned of Leto’s pregnancy, she grew angry with both Zeus and Leto, but because Zeus was the King of the Olympian Gods, she could not take her anger out on him. Instead, she cursed Leto to not find a solid place on Earth to give birth to her children.
When it came time for Leto to give birth, she wandered around Greece, trying to find a place to have her children. Every person she came across turned her away, for they did not want to anger Hera.
Zeus pitied her, and guided her to the Island of Delos. The Island was one that floated around the waters, never having a solid place it stayed. It was the only place on Earth that was not a solid ground. It was here that Leto gave birth, and it was here that would one day become the sacred island of the twins.
Leto gave birth to Artemis first, and it was quick and easy. The birth of Apollo, however, took nine days, because Hera had kidnapped Eileithyia, the goddess of childbirth. Artemis, however, quickly learned how to help her mother, and finally Apollo was born. This is how Artemis became a goddess of childbirth.
Following the birth of the twins, the Island of Delos became rooted to the spot. Hera continued her anger towards Leto and the twins, and sent creatures after them to harass them, many of which were slain by one of the two gods.
The twin gods went on to join the rest of the Olympian gods, and have each of their own adventures, separate from their mother. Come back soon to see the things they did!
As always, thank you for reading and I hope to see you again soon. Αντίο, Σοφία.
