Diana

**Diana** is the Roman goddess of the hunt, the moon, woodlands and childbirth. Her Greek counterpart is **Artemis**.

## History

Diana, in Roman state religion, is the goddess of the hunt and the moon, woodlands and childbirth. It is believed that Diana was originally a local woodland deity, invoked by women to aid in conception and in childbirth, and that her cult originated in Aricia. One of her most famous places of worship was the grove of *Diana Nemorensis* ("Diana of the Wood") which was located on the shores of Lake Nemi, in Aricia; there Diana was associated with Egeria, a water-nymph who served as the goddess' midwife, and the hero Virbius, said to be the first priest of Diana's Arician cult, called the *Rex Nemorensis* ("King of the Wood").

In Rome, Diana had her own temple on the Aventine Hill which, erected around 540 BCE, was based on the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus; Roman tradition holds that it was originally dedicated on August 13 by the fifth king of Rome, Servius Tullius (c. 575–535 BC), and its location on the Aventine, situated just outside the *pomerium*, was compliant with the tradition that Diana was a deity common to all Latins, not exclusively of the Romans.

Diana was also considered the protector of the lower classes, especially slaves; slaves could receive asylum in her temples, a custom that was seen in Ephesus, and her chief festival, the *Nemoralia*, held every year on August 13, saw slaves be free from their duties. In art Diana was usually depicted as a huntress with a bow and quiver, accompanied by a deer or a hound.

## *Appearance*

*Diana resembles her Greek counterpart greatly, taking the form of an adolescent girl with long auburn hair tied back in a ponytail and silvery yellow eyes. She wears silver camouflage clothing.*

## *Personality*

*Diana is said to be more hostile, isolationist, and associates herself more with what the Romans think she is.*

*Despite her quick temper, she has a soft spot for her twin brother and misses him during his third time forced to be human.*

## *Abilities*

* ***Enhanced Hunting**: As the Goddess of Hunting, Diana is an unrivaled master of hunting and tracking, having the same advanced hunting powers her hunters have, but extremely increased. She can help heroes more directly since wild animals and monsters are in her domain.*
	+ ***Archery**: As the Goddess of Archery, Diana is an extremely skilled archer only rivaled by Apollo and Orion. She inherited her skill from her mother.*
	+ ***Knifesmanship:** Diana has amazing agility and impeccable expertise at using long hunting knives in close combat.*
	+ ***Prowess in Battle**: Diana is shown to be extremely formidable in battle.*
	+ ***Hunting Transfiguration:** Diana can transform ordinary objects and creatures into things associated with hunting.*
	+ ***Strategic Skill**: Although not on par with her half-sister Minerva, Diana is very tactical in combat.*
* ***Wilderness Manipulation**: As the Goddess of the Wilderness, Diana has divine authority and absolute control over the forests, including its inhabitants and surroundings.*
	+ ***Animal Authority**: Diana has divine authority over wild animals, primarily over wolves, hawks, and stags.*
		- ***Animal Replenishing**: She can replenish the animals she kills, thus balancing the fauna.*
		- ***Zoolingualism**: She can communicate with wild animals.*
	+ ***Atmokinesis**: Diana has absolute control over the elements surrounding her domain, though to a lesser extent than her father.*
		- ***Aerokinesis** (limited): Diana can control and manipulate air. She can halt the wind at least in the immediate vicinity of the Hunt, even in a snowy day.*
	+ ***Chlorokinesis** (limited): Although she isn't quite as powerful in this regard as her aunt Ceres or her half-brother Bacchus, Diana has control over the plants over any forest and its surroundings. She controls every aspect from its trees to the ground.*
* ***Lunakinesis**: As the Goddess of the Moon, Diana has absolute control and divine authority over the Moon.*
	+ ***Photokinesis**: Diana has absolute control and divine authority over the moonlight.*
		- ***Moonlight Rays**: She can shoot lasers of concentrated moonlight.*
		- ***Enhanced Vision**: She can see clearly in the dark.*
* ***Teleportation**: She travels in waves of light, which can blind people.*
	+ ***Constellations Creation**: Diana can transform people into groups of stars once they have died.*
* ***Reproduction Manipulation**: As the Goddess of Childbirth, Diana has absolute control and divine authority over reproduction.*
	+ ***Gender Reassignment**: She is able to make men women and vice versa.*
* ***Shapeshifting**: As a goddess, Diana has the power of shapeshifting, which allows to turn herself into any animal.*
* ***Vitakinesis**: In The Tyrant's Tomb, she is able to heal the now-mortal Apollo's zombie infection, commenting that while she's not a goddess of healing, she is still a goddess and can take care of her little brother's boo-boos.*
* ***Diana's Blessing Granting**: As the Goddess of Hunting and Maidenhood, Diana is capable of granting eternal youth, immunity to illness, enhanced hunting skills, and superhuman physical abilities greater than that of a demigod. Should her chosens break their vow, she can strip them of the powers she grants.*
	+ ***Immortality Reversal** (possibly): She may be able to take away a goddess’ eternal youth, as her Greek counterpart has demonstrated this ability.*

## *Trivia*

* *In Roman mythology, Diana took on many of Hecate’s traits and symbols. Diana was a three faced goddess of crossroads, associated with magic and the underworld, whose symbol was the torch.*
* *Her Egyptian counterparts are Khonsu, Thoth and Neith.*
* *Her Norse counterparts are Skadi and Ullr.*