Lets steal the cheese of Artemis!

When you think of cheese, its unlikely that the Goddess Artemis will be the first thing to cross your mind!  However, ever since chancing on a snippet about a ritual recorded by Xenophon when I was doing the research for my book ARTEMIS Virgin Goddess of the Sun and Moon some years back, I often find myself thinking of Artemis when I see one of those cheeses wrapped in red, as the red makes me think of the bloodshed which might have accompanied the “cheese stealing ritual” of Artemis!

In Lakedaimonion Politeia (2.9) we find a reference to this cheese stealing ritual in which two opposing groups of young men would contest some cheese, which would be stored on the altar of Artemis.  The first group would defend the cheese with whips and the second group would try to steal it.  This ritual seems to have been a variation of many others which would involve some form of fighting, violence and bloodshed on Artemis’ altars. 

In another example Euripides recorded a mock sacrifice which was performed at the temple of Artemis Tauropolos in Attica.  In this rite a man would have his neck scratched with a knife, so that blood was drawn.  We can speculate that this might have formed part of an initiatory rite, with the first of the blood being shed as an offering to Artemis.

“And institute this custom: when the people celebrate, as atonement for your sacrfice let them hold a sword to a man’s neck and cause blood to flow, for holidness sake and that the goddess have due honour.” (Euripedes)

For those of you who have undergone esoteric Wiccan Initiations will recognise the theme which runs through the above reference, something which again illustrates how the same practices which were found in the ancient world continues to be echoed in modern ritual practices, often with no recognition of the original and with the vague idea that our modern rites have all just been invented the other day.  But that is part of the illusion of the Moon!

For those familiar with the image of the goddess Artemis in modern paganism, the above might have raised an eyebrow as the examples noted involve MALE devotees, contrary to the modern idea that Artemis’ worshippers were all female!  Though it is true that the majority of her devotees were young female virgins, there are many examples of men who did devote themselves to Artemis too. 

Tomorrow I will draw again from the work I published in ARTEMIS to explore the idea of men as worshippers of Artemis a little more, and will also consider the role of male gods in her mysteries.  I would love to hear your thoughts about Artemis & Men, and of course Cheese – either directly here on my blog (www.sorita.co.uk ) or where-ever you are reading this!