Heroes play a very important role in their culture; they are honored and idealized by members of their culture. They are admired because of their qualities and achievements, as well as their courage. Hermes and Artemis, from Greek mythology, are perfect examples of heroes and heroines and exhibit archetypal elements in different ways. Hermes gained notoriety through cunning and deception in aiding his closest comrades, while Artemis' heroism can be attributed to her unprecedented compassion for the welfare of animals. First, Artemis was born to Letos and Zeus on the island of Delos (Littleton 157). . Artemis is one of the twelve great Olympians. When she was a child, she asked Zeus for three things. These three wishes include remaining a virgin forever, owning bows and arrows like her brother Apollo, and she wanted all the mountains in the world to belong to her (O'Neal 25). Next, Artemis was a very attractive girl and she attracted the attention of many (Littleton 157). One day, according to a myth, Artemis was bathing in a spring with her nymphs, when they noticed someone watching them. Artemis, because she did not want to be seen naked, immediately transformed him into a deer (Gall 4). In another myth, Artemis fell in love with Orion. Orion was a skilled hunter, but he was devoted to Eos. Artemis, because his stubbornness killed him with one of her arrows (Gall 110). Next, Artemis is known as the “goddess of the hunt, of the desert, of the mountains, of the forests, and of the wastelands” (Littleton 156). She is “the protector of women” and her arrows “brought painless death to women” (Gall 108). Artemis helped her mother during childbirth and brought Letos "no pain". Therefore, she is also the goddess of childbirth...... middle of paper......a mythology. Abyla to Atalanta. Cleveland, OH: Lincoln Library, 2006. Print. Gall, Timothy L. and Susan B. Gall: The Lincoln Library of Greek and Roman Mythology. Say Pater to Janus. Cleveland, OH: Lincoln Library, 2006. Print. “Hermes.” Mythica Encyclopedia. Mythica encyclopedia online. Internet. October 19, 2013. “Hermes”. Godchecker: your guide to the gods. Internet. October 11, 2013. Littleton, C. Scott. Gods, goddesses and mythology: V.2 (Arès-Celts). Tarrytown, New York: Marshall Cavendish, 2005. Print. Littleton, C. Scott. Gods, goddesses and mythology: V.5 (Gorgons-Inanna). Tarrytown, New York: Marshall Cavendish, 2005. Print. Napoli, Donna Jo and Christian Balit. Treasure of Greek mythology: classic stories of gods, goddesses, heroes and monsters. Washington: National Geography Society, 2011. Print. O'Neal, Claire. Artemis. Hockessin, DE: Mitchell Lane, 2008. Print.