The Legend of Callisto

The story of Callisto is one of the best for understanding Artemis' function as a goddess of the rites of passage, especially female transitions. She was worshipped as a symbol of life moving from a wild, uncultivated childhood to a more cultivated adulthood. Just like Artemis, children are unplowed virgins and are wild and carefree. In fact, Artemis actually attends childbirth, taking the baby in her role as Artemis L'Ochia. That role falls to Elothia, daughter of Hera, because Artemis never crosses over and is eternally a virgin.