HIPPOMENES IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Hippomenes in Greek mythology
In Greek mythology, Hippomenes was famed for being the husband of the heroine Atalanta; Hippomenes having won the hand in marriage of Atalanta following a running race.
Hippomenes Son of Megareus
Hippomenes was said to be the son of King Megareus of Onchestus and a woman named Merope. Megareus had aided King Nisus of Nisa in his fight against King Minos, and some say that Megareus had succeeded Nisus, with the city of Nisa renamed Megara. Thus, potentially, Hippomenes was a prince of Onchestus and Megara.
The same tales told of Hippomenes are also told of Melanion, which leads to the possibility that Hippomenes and Melanion were the same person, just given different names, although Melanion is commonly said to be the son of Amphidamas, rather than Megareus.
The same tales told of Hippomenes are also told of Melanion, which leads to the possibility that Hippomenes and Melanion were the same person, just given different names, although Melanion is commonly said to be the son of Amphidamas, rather than Megareus.
The Legendary Atalanta
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Hippomenes would become famous for his attempt to marry Atalanta in Greek mythology. Atalanta was regarded as the equal of many male heroes of the day, and she had been successful during the Calydonian Boar Hunt.
During the hunt, Meleager had fallen in love with Atalanta, and she with him, but Meleager had died shortly after the successful killing of the Calydonian Boar. |
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Atalanta had returned to her home, and she now forsaked love, either because of the death of Meleager, or because of a prophecy that had been made about the consequences if she was to wed.
How to Marry Atalanta
Countless suitors though came seeking the hand in marriage of the famous Atalanta. Some tell of how Atalanta’s father wished to see his daughter wed, or else Atalanta’s father wished to avoid bloodshed, so a contest was devised by which a potential suitor of Atalanta could be successful.
Suitors would have to race Atalanta in a running race, and the one who could beat her in the race would marry her. There were though consequences for those who ran the race and lost, for they would be killed, and their head would be placed on a spike. It was commonly said that the suitors were given a head start, but if they were overtaken before the finish line then they had lost.
Now the thought of death dissuaded many potential suitors from trying to outrun Atalanta, but sill many also attempted to beat Atalanta, and all died in the attempt.
Suitors would have to race Atalanta in a running race, and the one who could beat her in the race would marry her. There were though consequences for those who ran the race and lost, for they would be killed, and their head would be placed on a spike. It was commonly said that the suitors were given a head start, but if they were overtaken before the finish line then they had lost.
Now the thought of death dissuaded many potential suitors from trying to outrun Atalanta, but sill many also attempted to beat Atalanta, and all died in the attempt.
The Race between Hippomenes and Atalanta - Noël Hallé (1711–1781) - PD-art-100
Hippomenes Runs His Race
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Hippomenes was not dissuaded by the thought of death, but equally he knew that he could not outrun Atalanta. Hippomenes thus prayed to the goddess Aphrodite for assistance.
Aphrodite heard Hippomenes’ prayers and disliking the fact that Atalanta was forsaking love, decided to help. Aphrodite would present Hippomenes with three Golden Apples, potentially from the famous orchard of the Hesperides, or alternate ones from Cyprus. |
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Hippomenes would challenge Atalanta to a race. When Hippomenes feared that he was to be overtaken, he dropped one of the Golden Apples, and a distracted Atalanta, would stop to pick the apple up, before resuming running.
In this way, although it took all three apples, Hippomenes ended up winning the race, and the hand in marriage of Atalanta.
In this way, although it took all three apples, Hippomenes ended up winning the race, and the hand in marriage of Atalanta.
Hippomenes and Atalanta - Bon Boullogne (1649-1717) - PD-art-100
The Downfall of Hippomenes and Atalanta
The marriage of Hippomenes and Atalanta was said to have brought forth a son, Pathenopaeus, who wold late become one of the Seven Against Thebes, although alternative parentage of Partheopaeus was often given.
Having won the running race, Hippomenes would forget to offer up the appropriate sacrifices to Aphrodite in recognition of her help.
Angered by the slight, Aphrodite would have her revenge, for she caused Atalanta and Hippomenes to become so impassioned that they had sex with each other, either in a temple of Cybele or Zeus.
This sacrilege caused Cybele or Zeus to turn Hippomenes and Atalanta into a lion and lioness, some say this occurred because it was thought that lions mated with leopards rather than other lions, although it is also said that the Ancient Greeks did not necessarily distinguish between large cat species, calling all large cats lions.
Having won the running race, Hippomenes would forget to offer up the appropriate sacrifices to Aphrodite in recognition of her help.
Angered by the slight, Aphrodite would have her revenge, for she caused Atalanta and Hippomenes to become so impassioned that they had sex with each other, either in a temple of Cybele or Zeus.
This sacrilege caused Cybele or Zeus to turn Hippomenes and Atalanta into a lion and lioness, some say this occurred because it was thought that lions mated with leopards rather than other lions, although it is also said that the Ancient Greeks did not necessarily distinguish between large cat species, calling all large cats lions.
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Colin Quartermain - Hippomenes - 17th February 2020