Peloponnese Peninsula

         The Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia is a famous Greek Archaeological site situated in Sparta, in the Peloponnese region of Greece. Artemis is known to be the daughter of Zeus and Leto, the twin sister of Apollo. (Cartwright, 2012, par.1) Artemis is the goddess of hunting wild animals, hunting, child birth and fertility. Per Greek mythology the goddess of fertility, Artemis, requested of her father Zeus, to be chaste and unmarried forever and to be always equipped for hunting. (Cartwright, 2012, par.1)

          Per Nicki Waugh, the sanctuary of Artemis Orthia is situated Northwest of the ancient Spartan polis, the existence of the sanctuary is noted to have begun in the Archaic period, around the 800-500 B.C. (Waugh, 2009, pg.159) The sanctuary is noted to have been painted and decorated with fine reddish-brown clay, with brownish-black paint over thick white slabs. (Catling, 1994, pg.269) According to Waugh’s studies, In the sanctuary, fertility rituals were performed, and many nude figurines have been found in the ruins of the temple. Various researchers have assumed that the nude figurines represent fertility and the various women would pray to the statues and offer an array of sacrifices (Waugh, 2009, pg. 160).  The figurines have been noted to be in different positions and mostly those positioned in having their hands over their groin area, which some consider to a symbol of fertility (Waugh, 2009, pg. 160). 

          The goddess Artemis is known for a number of reasons, mainly was for a possessive and protective nature. Various Greek legends recall events in which she has turned men and women into animals or ended their lives for disobeying her or looking sexually at her or her followers (Leadbetter, 1997, par. 3-4).  Artemis, protected her virginity and ensured no one disrespected her wishes.