Diana was a goddess in Roman mythology. She was the daughter of Jupiter, the king of the gods. Her mother was the goddess Latona. Diana and the god Apollo were twins. She was born on the island of Delos, and so she was sometimes called the Delian goddess, or Delia. Because she resembled the Greek goddess Artemis, she became associated with her myths and characteristics.
Diana was a moon goddess. She was also the goddess of various aspects of women’s life, including childbirth. She was the goddess of young living things, particularly young animals, and of hunting. A virgin, Diana symbolized chastity and modesty. When Actaeon saw her bathing, she took revenge by changing him into a stag. His hounds immediately attacked and killed him.
Artists showed Diana wearing hunting clothes, carrying a bow and quiver of arrows. She is often accompanied by forest nymphs and hunting dogs.
