Twin sister to Apollo, the goddess was by differing accounts a nearly asexual virgin*, a lesbian, or pansexual with many nymph lovers, including Cyrene, Atalanta, and Anticleia as well as moon goddess Dictynna. By some accounts, she was Callisto’s lover before the nymph was raped by Zeus. 

She was known to defy the gender stereotypes of Ancient Greece, living her best life and taking up “manly” pursuits and attributes and preferring the company of Her hunting dogs and nymphs. 

Researcher Johanna Hypatia-Cybelaia writes that lesbian and gay devotees worshipped her as Artemis Orthia, and that lesbian poet Pamphilia referred to the goddess in hymn as Artemis Pergaea.

*In Ancient Greece, virginity referred to being unmarried, to still being in maidenhood and accordingly unbound by marriage or similar platonic relationships. It doesn’t necessarily mean chaste or without sexual experience.