Arte

This name derives from Ancient Greek “Artémios (Αρτέμιος) Artemī́sios (Ἀρτεμῑ́σῐος),” from “Ártemis (Ἄρτεμῐς),” which in turn derives from “árktos (ᾰ̓́ρκτος),” meaning “bear.” In turn, the name means “strong as a bear.” Artemis was one of the most widely revered of the Ancient Greek deities. Her Roman equivalent is Diana. In the classical period of Greek mythology, Artemis was often described as Zeus and Leto’s daughter and Apollo’s twin sister. Artemius, known as Challita in the Maronite tradition, was a general of the Roman Empire, “dux Aegypti” (imperial prefect of Roman Egypt). He is considered a saint by the Orthodox Church, with the name of Artemius of Antioch. Artemius was an Arian Christian, as Emperor Constantius II was. Constantius ordered Artemius to go in the lands beyond the Danube and bring back to Constantinople the relics of Andrew the Apostle, Luke the Evangelist, and Saint Timothy.