The Role of Artemis in the Female Life Cycle

Many of Artemis' sanctuaries were located on the borders of a given polis, and lands that formed territorial boundaries. Rituals conducted safely by girls at these vulnerable sites demonstrated the strength of the polis. A number of myths and legends draw a clear analogy between the rape of young women celebrating Artemis' festivals, and the penetration of a polis' territory by its enemies. Although she is a virgin goddess, Artemis is not asexual, but fosters the constant awareness of the maturing sexuality of community's adolescent girls.