Artemis is special among the other goddesses of Olympus. She was the daughter of Zeus and Leto and twin sister to Apollo. Leto gave birth to her in secret on the island of Delos to avoid the wrath of ever jealous Hera. She was the goddess of earth’s fertility and childbirth and was considered an excellent hunter rivaled by none. Artemis is the protector of the animals and guardian of all elements of nature, the rivers the lakes and the fields. She would run and hunt on the mountains and forests of Laconia escorted by the nymphs. Healing was also one of her powers, because she was known to help the sick cure themselves.
During the battle between Apollo and the pythons of Delphi as well as the fight against the children of Niobe she stood by his side. Her close relationship with Apollo was notable, but he was the god of the sun and the light, and she was the goddess of the moon also called Selene. She never married and remained virgin, never falling in love with any god or man. Her virtue was sought after, and many gods desired her and claimed her for themselves. Those who approached Artemis with lust or merely saw her naked were punished severely.
Artemis was worshiped in Athens and the rest of Greece. In art she is depicted young thin and elegant with a quick walking pace holding her bow and arrow.
The worship of Apollo is the most widely diffused. His birth was adventurous as his mother, Leto, was chased by the serpent Python (Hera's intrigue); he grew up miraculously fast (in seven months he assumed the appearance of a grown man)
Ares is the son of Zeus and Hera and one of the Twelve Olympian Gods. His birthplace and true home was placed far away, among the barbarous and hostile Thracians.
Athena was the daughter of Zeus and Metis, the Titan and goddess of cunningness and wisdom. According to the myth Zeus received a prophecy that one of his off springs would bring the end to his reign.
Atlas was a Titan, the son of Iapetus and Asia. He was well-known to everyone because his task was no less than to support the sky and the heavens over the earth.
Demeter was the daughter of Chronus and Rhea. She was the goddess of agriculture and taught men how to seed and harvest the fields.
Zagori is an area of great natural beauty and unique architecture in the Pindus Mountains in Epirus in Northwestern Greece. The area is of about 1.000 square kilometers and contains 46 villages. Zagoria villages is called by Greeks “Zagorochoria” meaning the villages behind the mountain.
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In 1989, Professor of Byzantine Studies, Helen Ahrweiler is appointed Chairman of the Cultural Centre Pompidou in Paris