Diana

Diana is the Roman goddess of the hunt, the moon, and nature (especially woodlands and wild animals). She holds deer and oak groves sacred. The crescent moon, sometimes worn as a diadem, is a symbol of the goddess. Origianlly the Italic goddes Diana Nemorensis (“Diana of Nemi”) aka Diana of the Wood, she was Hellenised with Artemis during the fourth century BC.

Name

Diana (djˈaː.na) is analogous to:

Artemis

• Greek (CG) goddess of the hunt, the moon, forests, hills, and archery. She holds deer and cypress sacred.
• Hellenic (CG) goddess of the hunt, wild animals, wilderness, childbirth, virginity, and protector of young girls.

Ehlonna/Ehlenestra (eh-LOHN-nah/eh-LEHN-estra)

• Oerth/Elven, (NG) goddess of forests, woodlands, flora, fauna, and fertility. Her symbol is a rampant unicorn or a unicorn’s horn.
• Flan Eternal Maiden, goddess of children, and both huntress and prey in the eternal cycle of life.
• Pathfinder

Mielikki (my-LEE-kee)

• Finnish goddess of forests and the hunt.
  • Tellervo (Mielikki and Tapio’s daughter) Finnish goddess of forests.
  • Nyyrikki (Mielikki and Tapio’s son) Finnish god of the hunt and cattle.
• Faerûnian Forest Queen, (NG) goddess of autumn, druids, dryads, forests, forest creatures and rangers. Her symbol is a left-facing unicorn’s head. She resides in the Grove of the Unicorns, within the House of Nature.
  • Eldath (EL-dath, Mielikki’s sister and Selûne’s ally) The Green Goddess, Mother Guardian of Groves, the Mother of the Waters (NG) goddess of groves (druids’, etc.) and watersheds (rivers, streams).
  • Gwaeron Windstrom (GWAIR-on WIND-strahm, Mielikki’s subordinate) the Master of Tracking, The Mouth of Mielikki (NG) god of rangers and tracking.
  • Shiallia (shee-AL-lee-ah, Mielikki’s subordinate) the Dancer in the Glades, the Daughter of the High Forest (G) goddess of pregnant forest creatures and seedlings.
  • Lurue (luh-RUE, Mielikki’s subordinate) the Unicorn Queen, the Queen of Talking Beasts (CG) goddess of intelligent and talking beasts (esp. unicorns and pegasi).

Selûne (seh-LOON-eh)

• Faerûnian Our Lady of Silver, the Moonmaiden, the Night White Lady, (CG) goddess of the moon. Her symbol is a circle of seven stars around two feminine eyes. She resides in the Gates of the Moon, on the Gladsheim layer of Ysgard.

See also

• Sheela Peryroyl, the halfling goddess of nature, agriculture, and weather. Her realm, the Flowering Hill, is in the Green Fields.

Realm

As Ehlonna, Ehlenestra or Mielikki; her realm is the Grove of the Unicorns, within the House of Nature.

In popular culture

Hymn to Diana

by Ben Jonson (c.1600)

Qᴜᴇᴇɴ and Huntress, chaste and fair,

Now the sun is laid to sleep,

Seated in thy silver chair

State in wonted manner keep;

Hesperus entreats thy light,

Goddess excellently bright.

Earth, let not thy envious shade

Dare itself to interpose;

Cynthia’s shining orb was made

Heaven to clear when day did close:

Bless us then with wishèd sight,

Goddess excellently bright.

Lay thy bow of pearl apart

And thy crystal-shining quiver;

Give unto the flying hart

Space to breathe, how short soever:

Thou that mak’st a day of night,

Goddess excellently bright!

Alberto Vargas

• “Diana the Huntress” (1930s) painting of a nude Diana with two Borzoi.
  • “Diana the Huntress” (1980) limited-edition hand-signed 74×54㎝ print (1/50)
  • “The Vargas Centennial 1896–1996” limited-edition 24×36″ lithograph (1/?)
• “Hymn to Diana”, Esquire (1941 March) gatefold with a green dress added for censors.

“Hymn to Diana”

Phil Stack’s caption for Esquire’s March 1941 Varga Girl gatefold.

In mythologic ages

You were Goddess of the Chase

And the poets and the sages

Hymned the beauty of your face,

Yes, you thrilled them to the marrow

As you roamed the woodland, dense,

With your crafty bow and arrow

You were certainly immense!

But it seems a shame, Diana,

That you’re still not on the job,

What a uniform hosanna

You would get from all the mob!

You’re so charming, blonde and vital

That if Broadway’s haunts you graced

You’d soon have another title—

You’d be goddess of the chased!