650 BC, Greece in the City State of Sparta

Lycurgus stood haughtily not moving, his ward Charilaus had already fallen to his knees merely catching sight of her, as the Jaffa made their way to him.

The populace of Sparta prostrated themselves in awe and curiosity as they viewed all of the female guards and servant come out standing at ready, flanking a path to their leader. A single woman, obviously their leader approached Lycurgus.

"You will bow before your Goddess Artemis." the woman said sneering pointing the staff weapon at his head. As the man refused she charged the weapon but a smooth femine voice stopped her."

"No Jaffa," the golden-haired woman said smoothly. "You must be Lycurgus, the so-called Law Giver" she began slowly approaching him her hips swaying beneath the short tunic.

Lycurgus bristled at the view. The woman not only wore a boy's tunic but a sword at her side and a bow and arrows on her back all things a woman, let alone a Goddess, should view as improper.

"Yes I am My Lady," he said inclining his head as she stood in front of him.

"You should follow the example of the young boy there," she said with a flash of her eyes indicating the teenaged ward.

"My Lady I wish to show you Honor and great you as I stand," he said lying.

Artemis laughed.

"You presume, A Tau'ril and a man to great me as an equal?" she asked turning to the First Prime. "Take hold of him now and tie him to that tree."

Lycurgas gasped and struggled as 3 Jaffa grabbed him as directed by the First Prime. They dragged him through the crowd and to a large olive tree as the crowd scattered.

Artemis walk slowly and deliberately retrieving her bow and a single arrow with a tip made from a metal no one there could recognize. She stopped at the edge of the srowd leaving a long distance between them.

"I am the Goddess Artemis" she declared in a loud and cruel voice, "and all those that defy me shall be pierced through." Saying that she mounted the arrow onto the bow and targeted him.

The arrow shot through the air with a burst of light and whizzed over the heads of the frigthened people. The arrow lodged in his right eye as he howled in pain.

"I have not kill him this day since I think he has learned his lesson," Artemis declared. "Release him Jaffa, tend him and then send him home. I've had enough of this rabble today."

So saying the Goddess headed to the largest house in the city, the Hall of the Spartan Senate, viewing it with distaste. "Construction of a temple must be done immediately until then that will have to do."

"Yes my Goddess," The Jaffa said.

"I can see it will take a lot of work to make this a fitting seat for my ambitions," she said a cool smile passing along her features.

Sparta, Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia, 600 B.C.

Artemis sat in her golden throne atop the dais. She watched the dancers below with appreciation for the tau’ri form, she after all appreciated the beauty of her host and the town’s people always picked the most exceptional youths for the ritual. They danced to please their Goddess, writhing, glistening bodies in the torch light in time to lyres and flutes.
On one side sat Lycurgus, the ever-disapproving current leader of the Spartans, and on the right sat Charilaus who was as faithful her servant as any Za'tarc. Only she controlled his devotion without chemical tricks, just as she controlled the hearts of most of Sparta.

“Charilaus,” she said in a smooth voice, “Are you responsible for the quality of the entertainment this evening?” Of course she knew already he was, but some flattery was in order, she’d know if he was ready to rule her Sparta soon.

“Yes my Goddess he said,” smiling at her.

“You are to be commended,” she said smiling back. “I am most pleased,” she said supposedly turning her attention to the musicians. In reality out of the corner of her eye she observed Lycurgus.

“You are most gracious O Artemis,” Charilaus to her. “You who have made Sparta strong, greater than all other cities in Greece.”

“Perhaps in the might of our Soldiers,” Lycurgus said with a slight shift in his seat, “but not in wisdom or learning.”

“Lycurgus how dare you speak this way to our Goddess!” Chariliaus saidvehemently to his teacher.

“The rest of the nations despise how wild the women are here. They train with weapons and the women are even left to run things while the men, while they are still yet boys, are made to train or serve in the military. Only if they reach 30 are they allowed to claim their lands.”

“Goddess how can you stand his insolence?” Chariliaus declared.

Artemis smiled to herself. “Pity poor Lycurgas, Chariliaus, he prefers the guidance of my brother Apollo. My brother who loves only dancing and music.”

“He knows the future though,” Lycurgas said. “The Oracle at Delphi never has been wrong.”

“And was it not the Oracle that said I Artemis would make Sparta great?” she severely

“Yes,” he said between clinched teeth.

“Besides the shrine you speak of is in disarray and all but abandoned. No decrees have come forth through for nearly 100 years. It is only the mundane and ordinary they speak of now. My powerful brother neglects you all while I have raised you from ignominy.”

“So many of the young men die before their prime or can have heirs either from starvation, beating or in killing worthless Helots.”

“If they don’t survive they are not strong enough to deserve having children,” the Goddess replied.

The music stopped as the priestesses entered carrying the winged effigy of Artemis. The Gaou’ald smiled as the young men were led in.

“Ah look its about to begin,” Artemis crooned.

“Great Goddess Artemis!” the Priestess began. “Our most esteemed regent and law giver Lycurgus and King Chariliaus! Behold as we make this sacrifice of blood to our beloved Goddess.”

The Priestess turned raising the effigy above her head and turning to approach the altar where she placed the idol. Two Lo’tar entered and bowed to Artemis and the altar brandishing the whips.

“You think me harsh Lycurgus? What of my sanctioning this instead of the human sacrifices that were performed here in my name?”

The Lo’tar marched so that the backs of the youths faced them and whipped began whipping them. A soft smile passed over Artemis’s lips as the Tau’ri took their beatings with gritted teeth and love in their hearts for her. They did it with pleasure, had she not brought them riches with all the hardships? They sat until the sharp pieces embedded in the whips shredded the skin and blood flew onto the alter. They did it all for her pleasure, she the beloved Goddess of the Hunt. She the warrior that made Sparta into a nation of warriors, she had molded them and now was the time to use what she had created. Now was the time to test whether Chariliaus was ready to cast aside Lycurgas and the past and march on forward.

“Kree’ta Lo’tar!” she said in the language of the Gods rising with the grace of a dancer.

The Lo’tar stopped and kneeled down.

“Ke’i Spartans!” the First Prime shouted! “Satak Artemis, Tau’ri dis’tra! Abidon!”

Everyone fell to their knees.

“Spartans this sacrifice pleases me,” Artemis began. “You are strong! You are the best of the Tau’ri! It is your destiny to own all of Greece and I shall lead you to battle! I shall strengthen the hand of Chariliaus and all of his progeny! Rise up and praise Chariliaus for he now has earned the right to take the throne and he will lead you against the Messians!”

The entire temple rose and cheered and Chariliaus beamed.

“Chariliaus do you accept this assignment? Do you take the Kingship? Will you lead your Spartans into battle? Will you conquer in my name?”

Chariliaus got up from the throne and bowed to Artemis’s feet. “Goddess I accept I will do as you ask.”

The Tau’ri cheered. Yes she had waited long enough, they were in the palm of her hand all accepting for ….

“You wish us to go to war?” Lycurgus protested from behind.

Yes Lycurgus, she had to finally get rid of that thorn in her side, he was no longer needed for her plans.

Artemis turned to Lycurgus as the crowd hushed. They probably expected her to kill him but she couldn’t do that. The Tau’ri loved him.

“Spare my teacher O Great Artemis!” Chariliaus said.

“I will not kill him for I know he only has the best interests of his people at heart,” she said smoothly. “To ease your mind Lawgiver I command to go the Oracle at Delphi and hear what she tells you. If Apollo shows you our victory through his thrall then you will not question our path.”

“Very well my Goddess” Lycurgus said bowing. “I will do as you say for I know the Oracle speaks truth. I shall discover what path is our Destiny.”
Artemis smiled. “I shall send some of my loyal Jaffa to guard you on your journey for I too wish to know what the other Gods see.”

Lycurgus bowed and exited the shrine among the cheers of the Tau’ri. Of course he would never make it to the oracle, none of them would, the Jaffa would kill his party and then her First Prime would kill those Jaffa. No one would ever know their fate save she and her most loyal servant.

“Now let us celebrate! Your Goddess commands it!” she declared.

This scene is based on the festival of Artemis Orthia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_Orthia) where human sacrifice or flogging and the letting of blood were common. Dancing and singing while naked accompanied the sacrifice.

Spartan Military training or Agoge is also referenced which began at the age of seven. In particular it mentions the Krypteia phase where to pass into the army the young man had to kill one of the helots, the Spartan Slaves/Serfs from the surrounding and conquered people, in order to pass.

Women in Spartan culture enjoyed status and power that they did not have in the rest of the classical Greek world and were required to have Gymnastics and Physical training and owned most of the property while their husbands fought in the army. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparta)