Claim: Artemis is a goddess.

Potnia Theron -LRB- Ἡ Πότνια Θηρῶν , `` The Mistress of the Animals '' -RRB- is a term first used -LRB- once -RRB- by Homer -LRB- Iliad 21 . 470 -RRB- and often used to describe female divinities associated with animals . The word Potnia , meaning mistress or lady , was a Mycenaean Greek word inherited by Classical Greek , with the same meaning , cognate to Sanskrit .   Homer 's mention of potnia theron is thought to refer to Artemis and Walter Burkert describes this mention as `` a well established formula '' . An Artemis type deity , a ` Mistress of the Animals ' , is often assumed to have existed in prehistorical religion and often referred to as Potnia Theron , with some scholars positing a relationship between Artemis and goddesses depicted in Minoan art and `` Potnia Theron has become a generic term for any female associated with animals . ''   Many depictions use a female version of the widespread ancient motif of the male Master of Animals , showing a central figure with a human form grasping two animals , one to each side . The oldest depiction has been discovered in Çatalhöyük .  Another example of Potnia theròn is situated in Museo civico archeologico di Monte Rinaldo in Italy : plate illustrates goddess that wears with a long dress and holds hands two panthers .