Offerings to Artemis
by Thista Minai
Food:
- Meat: Goat was Artemis's favorite sacrifice in ancient Greece. Any game meat would be appropriate for Her, as would both wild and domestic rabbit. Organic meat is always nice, but free range is even more important.
- Amphiphontes: During a festival called the Mounukhia, the Athenians would offer Artemis round cakes topped with a circle of tiny torches. These cakes were called apmhiphontes - “shining all around”. They were likely a reference to the full moon, which, according to myth, shone on the Athenian fleet during the battle of Salamis as the Athenians defeated the invading Persians. From then on the Athenians offered amphiphontes to Artemis at the Mounukhia, thanking Her for saving them and asking for Her continued protection. Today, as worshipers petition Artemis for protection, many offer Her cookies, cupcakes, or other small round cakes circled with candles, especially during the full moon in late April or early May.
- Animal-Shaped Cakes or Cookies: The ancient Athenians celebrated the Elaphebolia, a festival of Artemis the Deer-Shooter, in which they would sacrifice deer to Her. As the polis grew larger, deer became more difficult to acquire for the festival, so the Athenians sacrificed deer-shaped cakes instead. This was rather common in ancient Greek religion: whenever an appropriate animal could not be found, animal-shaped cakes made an acceptable substitute. Today, animal-shaped cookies are a popular offering for Artemis.
- Honey: While probably not a traditional offering, Artemis had a clear association with bees in ancient Greece, especially at Ephesos. Today She seems to appreciate offerings of wildflower honey and/or raw honey.
Libations:
Red wine and other blood-colored beverages (e.g. cranberry juice), especially when spilled on freshly fallen snow. Mavro Daphne is a popular choice of wine for the Greek Gods, and Artemis seems to appreciate Graham's Six Grapes port.
Votive Offerings:
The ancient Greeks would often offer a variety of objects to their Gods, usually by delivering them to an appropriate temple. These items were usually put on display somewhere in the temple or sanctuary, and then later buried in a votive deposit. In some cases, particularly valuable offerings would be stored in a treasury, or within a special room in the temple. These are some of the more common ancient votive offerings, and some modern extrapolations on the same theme:
-Images of Artemis: Everything from larger than life statues to small relief images were gifted to Artemis in order to earn Her favor. Today, statuettes of Artemis are readily available from many different sources, or you might try carving or molding your own rendition of Her. Some people may instead prefer to offer a drawing, painting, or photograph that represents Her. These should be displayed for everyone to enjoy, and can be used as a focal point when praying to Atemis.
-Clothing: Ancient Greek women, most famously in Athens, could offer their clothing to Artemis. Women who survived childbirth might offer Her a particularly beautiful garment. Contrary to popular belief, the clothing of women who died in childbirth was offered to Iphigenia, not Artemis. Women might also dedicate clothing to Artemis to commemorate other special occasions. The women did not necessarily dedicate the clothing that they wore on the occasion. It's worth noting that textile production was the special task of ancient Greek women, particularly in Athens where the practice of offering clothing to Artemis was most popular. It seems likely that at least some women (if not most) created particularly luxurious garments for the specific purpose of dedicating them to Artemis, or perhaps offered the Goddess the best examples of their work. Today women might choose to offer Artemis a special piece of clothing in return for Her protection or guidance. It could be a favorite outfit, or a garment purchased or made specifically for Her. After a special event at which Artemis's blessing or protection was particularly desired or unusually apparent, a woman might choose to dedicate in thanks to Artemis the clothing she wore at that event. Dedicated clothing could be put on display, as garments were in ancient Greece, but donating clothes to charitable organizations that benefit women or children can make for an elegant modern solution.
-Bows,
Arrows, and Other Hunting Tools: Bows and arrows of all kinds make appropriate
offerings to Artemis, from competition bows with target arrows, to compound
hunting bows with broadhead arrows, to tiny model bows and arrows crafted from
twigs and thread. Other hunting tools are also pleasing to Her, such as
javelins, nets, or traps. Artemis can help us hunt down our goals, whatever
they may be, so a modern petitioner might decide to offer the tools required
for a specific hunt; for example, one might offer Her ballet slippers when
trying to win a dance competition, or a resume and a business suit when
applying for a new job.
-Masks: In ancient Sparta, archaeologists discovered votive masks at Artemis's temple. These small clay masks were likely replicas larger wooden masks which were actually worn during ritual. The precise purpose of this ritual is still a matter of speculation and debate, but it seems likely that it was part of a rite of passage by which Spartan boys became men. As a goddess of nature, Artemis presides not only over the untamed wilds, but also over the true nature of our very selves. She helps us understand who we really are beneath all the masks we wear, and can help us bring that true self to the surface. Today, worshipers might offer Artemis a mask as they struggle to understand the masks they must wear, or as they strive to embrace their true selves. Others might create a mask depicting the self they want to become, wear it in Her honor, then dedicate it to Her.
- Flowers: For those who want a historical basis for offering flowers to Artemis, in the Homeric Hymn 2 to Demeter, She was listed in the company of Kore, picking flowers in a meadow when Kore was abducted. Practically, however, it only takes walking into a meadow full of wildflowers to understand why such a thing would bring Artemis delight. Aside from Her traditional sacred plant (see below), She seems to have a special appreciation for yellow and white flowers, but Her favorite would of course be any flower growing wild, particularly if one had to venture into some wild place to gather it for Her.
-Things Related to Animals: Model animals and pictures of animals make excellent offerings to Artemis, particularly when they represent a specific animal that needs Her protection or healing. Ethically acquired animal products also make delightful votive offerings, such as antler, horn, hide, fur, bones, teeth, feathers, and claws, but be sure that the animal it came from either shed the item naturally, died in the wild, or was killed humanely and without waste. Pet supplies, supplies for animal care and husbandry, and animal food also make for excellent offerings to Artemis, particularly when donated to animal shelters or other charitable organizations that benefit animals.
Charities: Consider making a charitable donation to or volunteering for a relevant organization as an offering to Artemis:
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Big Brothers Big Sisters: Helping children realize their potential and build their futures.
Project Night Night: Helping homeless children have sweeter dreams.
Heifer International: Fighting hunger and poverty with animal husbandry.
The Water Project: Providing sustainable water to sub-Saharan African communities in need.
Also consider your local animal shelter or women's shelter.
Sacred Animals: While all animals are sacred to Artemis, those particularly special to Her are deer, bears, hounds, wild boar, buteo hawks, female goats, ground-dwelling birds such as quail and partridges, freshwater fish, horses, and lions.
Sacred Number: 6
Sacred Plants: Amaranth, asphodel, birch, cypress, palm, nut trees (especially walnut), and mugwort, wormwood, sagebrush, and other plants in the genus Artemisia.
Sacred Colors: Forest
green, blood red, moonlight silver. Yellow also seems to be a special color for
Artemis: girls at the ancient Greek sanctuary at Brauron wore yellow robes for
Her, and the first flowers that bloom in spring are often yellow.