Introduction

Artemis, goddess of the hunt and the moon, never quite understood the other gods and goddesses of Greece. She's watched since time beyond mortal memory as they tore each other and themselves apart over inconsequential things. She had seen her father Zeus and her dear twin Apollo spread chaos in their wake and bring suffering onto themselves in the name of some fleeting passion. She had watched countless times as Hera's love for her unfaithful husband turned to hatred, and as she rained down vengeance on those who did not deserve it.

Artemis had never felt the attraction that so consumed Zeus and Apollo, nor had she felt the type of love that gave rise to Hera's bitter jealousy. She knew that humans often found contentment in these feelings, but for the gods such things rarely turned out well. On the whole, Artemis considered herself better off for her lack of interest.

Many of the others disagreed. Aphrodite was the most vocal in her protests to Artemis' chosen way of life. The goddess of love simply couldn't imagine that anyone could be happy with being single.

"Aren't you dreadfully lonely?" she asked Artemis once. "Wouldn't you be happier if you had someone with you, someone to love?"

Artemis had only smiled, for she knew that, much as she didn't understand the others, they also didn't understand her. She was never lonely, not when she had her hunting troupe to go to. And Artemis, for all that she had never felt the slightest stirrings of romance, loved all of her companions fiercely and completely.

Centuries later, when the people of Greece stopped coming to her for help, Artemis would travel the world. During her travels she would meet many amazing deities from far off lands and pantheons, and some of them would join her as she roamed the world. But while she and her family reigned over Greece her troupe consisted mostly of nymphs who felt the same way she did, as well as a few human women to whom she had granted immortality.

One such woman, whose story is seldom told in its entirety, is Iphigenia.