I know that usually Diane wore a very short tunic so she could hunt and run easily and is often portrayed holding a bow, and carrying a quiver on her shoulder, accompanied by a deer or hunting dog. But when I saw this Alexander McQueen gown I immediately associate it to the Diane myth.
Diane, or Artemide, was the goddess of the hunt, being associated with wild animals and woodland, and also of the moon in Roman mythology. In literature she was the equal of the Greek goddess Artemis, though in cult beliefs she was Italic, not Greek, in origin. Diana was worshiped in ancient Roman religion and is currently revered in Roman Neopaganism and Stregheria.
Diana was known to be the virgin goddess and looked after virgins and women. She was one of the three maiden goddesses, Diana, Minerva and Vesta, who swore never to marry.
Diana was known to be the virgin goddess and looked after virgins and women. She was one of the three maiden goddesses, Diana, Minerva and Vesta, who swore never to marry.
Along with her main attributes, Diana was an emblem of chastity. Oak groves were especially sacred to her. According to mythology, Diana was born with her twin brother Apollo on the island of Delos, daughter of Jupiter and Latona. Diana made up a triad with two other Roman deities: Egeria the water nymph, her servant and assistant midwife; and Virbius, the woodland god. Sometimes the hunted creature would also be shown. Like mayeb in this case. She decorated with feathers her gown. As goddess of the moon, however, Diana wore a long robe, sometimes with a veil covering her head. Both as goddess of hunting and goddess of the moon she is frequently portrayed wearing a moon crown.
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| Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Diana. 1867. Oil on canvas. The National Gallery of Art, Washington |
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| Pompeo Girolamo Batoni, Diana e Cupido, 1761. New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art |
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| Orazio Gentileschi, Diana cacciatrice. 1630. Olio sui tela, Musée des Beau Arts, Nantes |
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