ARTEMISIA Lab

Artemis, an ancient Anatolian mother goddess, was widely worshipped in Western Anatolia. Her worship dates back to the Neolithic era, long before the Hellenistic period. Statues of women found in early Anatolian settlements, such as Çatalhöyük (circa 7500–5700 BCE), are believed to represent early forms of a mother goddess, which some scholars interpret as precursors to Artemis. These figurines emphasized fertility and the nurturing aspects of womanhood, which were central to her later worship.

As Hellenistic culture spread, Artemis became a mixture of the Anatolian and Greek religious traditions. Artemis was also the matron goddess of the Amazon Warriors.

In Greek mythology, Artemis was the daughter of Zeus and Leto and the twin sister of Apollo. Often depicted as a young maiden with a bow and arrow, she was the protector of women, wildlife, forests, and animals. Further, she was the powerful guardian of righteousness and independence, punishing those who violated her sacred boundaries.

Artemis has a prominent role in the story of Illiad, the famous Trojan War, where the city of Troy resides in present-day Canakkale, Turkey. Artemisia was a queen of the ancient city Halicarnassus, the present-day Bodrum, Turkey. She was named after the Goddess Artemis. As a queen, she ruled alone and actively fought in wars. The ancient historian Herodotus, a native of Halicarnassus, praises her courage.

The idea of Artemis was both a protector and a destroyer. We chose to honor this Goddess, the Amazon warriors, and the Anatolian queen through our Lab's name and by continuing their legacy of strength, courage, and integrity with our actions and research!