ARTEMIS (ar-te'mis), (Gr. "Aprei.us, ar'tem-is, a rtemis, Acts x ix :24).
The Diana of the Romans is a goddess known under various modifications. and with almost in compatible attributes. As the tutelary divinity of Ephesus, in which character alone she concerns us here, she was undoubtedly a representative of the same power presiding over conception and birth which was adored in Palestine under the name of Ashtoreth. She is therefore related to all the cognate deities of that Asiatic Juno-Venus, and partakes, at least, of their connection with the moon. Creuzer has combined a number of testi monies in order to show how her worship was introduced into Ephesus from the coasts of the Black Sea ; and endeavors to point out the several dedo-Persian, Egyptian, Libyan, Scy thian and Cretan, elements of which she is com pounded (Symbo/ik, ii. 115, sq.).
The later image with the full development of attributes is, as Creuzer says, a Pantheon of Asi atic and Egyptian deities. Even in it, however,
we see how little influence Greek art had in modi fying its antique rudeness. It is still more like a mummy than a Greek statute. Some of the most significant attributes in this figure are—The tur reted head, like that of Cybele; the nimbus behind it representing the moon ; the zodiacal signs of the bull, the twins, and the crab on her bosom ; below them, two garlands, one of flowers and the other of acorns ; the numerous breasts; the (ions, stags, 'tad cows in various parts; the bees and flowers on the sides ; and others described in Millin's Galerie Mylhol. i. 26. Her priests were called Megabyzi, and were eunuchs.
The Arabic version of the Acts renders Arte mis, in the chapter cited. by el: Zuharat, which is the Arabic name for the planet Venus.