According to one version of the story, Actaeon was a young man fond of the hunt and of spending his time haunting the forests, searching for game. One day, while on a hunting expedition, he happened to catch a glimpse of Artemis as she bathed nude and cavorted with her female companions in a lake. No doubt, Actaeon was taken aback by the beauty of the goddess, and made some sound that gave away his illicit presence. Artemis, startled, noticed the youth, and immediately her wrath at being seen in such a state by a mortal man caused her to react with fury: she transformed the unfortunate Actaeon into a stag. Actaeon's hounds, blinded with lust for this new prey, pounced upon their master and tore him apart, thus ending the life of the unlucky man. And Artemis had her revenge…

Text courtesy Mythography