THE HEROINE ATALANTA IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Atalanta was a rare thing in Greek mythology, a heroine in a world where heroes were the norm. It was said though, that Atalanta was a match for any mortal born heroes of Greek mythology.
Indeed, such was the fame of Atalanta that different regions of Ancient Greece would claim the heroine as their own, and in particular both Arcadia and Boeotia would contend that Atalanta was one of their natives.
Indeed, such was the fame of Atalanta that different regions of Ancient Greece would claim the heroine as their own, and in particular both Arcadia and Boeotia would contend that Atalanta was one of their natives.
Atalanta Abandoned
Atalanta is commonly said to have been the daughter of Iasus, a son of King Lycurgus of Arcadia, and Clymene, daughter of Minyas of Boeotia. Others tell of the father of Atalanta being Schoeneus or Maenalus.
The father of Atalanta wanted a son, and so when his wife gave birth to a son, Atalanta’s father took the new born baby into the nearby forest and abandoned her there. The most likely outcome of such an event was for the baby to die of exposure, but as with so many tales of Greek mythology the baby Atalanta did not die, for the goddess Artemis had observed events and intervened. Artemis sent forth a she bear to suckle the baby. The baby was eventually discovered by some hunters in the forest, and they took Atalanta away with them, raising her as if she was one of their band. |
The Huntress Atalanta
Atalanta would grow up amongst the hunters, and was trained by them in their ways. Thus, Atlanta was, at an early age, able to hunt, run and wrestle, and Atalanta would grow to be better than any of the male hunters that she lived with.
Despite growing up with so many men, Atalanta decided to remain chaste, taking an oath of virginity, and she became a devotee of Artemis, the goddess who years before had saved her. Subsequently, a prophecy was made by an oracle, that disaster would befall Atalanta if she lost her virginity. Atalanta’s chastity was soon tested though, for one day in the forest, she encountered two centaurs named Rhoecus and Hylaeus; and as was the barbarous nature of the centaurs as a whole, Rhoecus and Hylaeus attempted to rape the heroine. Atalanta was not defenceless though, for she had with her a bow and arrows, and so Atalanta shot and killed the two centaurs. Atalanta’s reputation as great hunter, runner and wrestler now spread across Ancient Greece. Atalanta at iolcusLater versions of the Atalanta myth have Atalanta present amongst the Argonauts as they travelled to Colchis for the Golden Fleece, more famously though, it was said that Jason prevented Atalanta going aboard the Argo, for fear of the distraction that Atalanta would cause to the other male heroes.
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Atalanta would be present in Iolcus though when the Argo returned to the city after the completion of the deadly quest. Atalanta was said to have competed in the funeral games for King Pelias, and there, Atalanta was said to have bested Peleus in a wrestling bout.
Atalanta and Meleager
News would arrive in Iolcus of trouble in Calydon, where a monstrous boar was ravaging a countryside, and a plea had been sent out across Ancient Greece by King Oeneus for help. Many of the heroes competing in the games left Iolcus and headed for Calydon. Atalanta was one, as was Meleager, the son of King Oeneus.
In Calydon, Meleager was put in charge of the assembled hunters, but even before they set out, Meleager had to deal with a dispute for, Toxeus and Plexippus, the uncles of Meleager, objected to the presence of a woman, Atalanta, in the hunt.
In Calydon, Meleager was put in charge of the assembled hunters, but even before they set out, Meleager had to deal with a dispute for, Toxeus and Plexippus, the uncles of Meleager, objected to the presence of a woman, Atalanta, in the hunt.
Meleager though was infatuated with the heroine, and would not leave her out of the hunting party, and indeed it was probably a good thing that Meleager agreed to Atalanta being one of the Calydonian Hunters, for it was Atalanta who was said to have inflicted the first injury upon the Calydonian Boar.
Subsequently, Meleager would inflict the killing blow, but instead of keeping the prized coat and tusks of the boar, Meleager presented them to Atalanta. The uncles of Meleager would object vigorously to the giving of such a prize, and Meleager was forced to kill both of them. This though would result in the death of Meleager, for his own mother threw an enchanted brand into the fire, ending the life of her son. |
Atalanta Returns HomeAtalanta would leave Calydon, deeply upset about the death of Meleager; Atalanta would later hang her prizes in a sacred grove of Artemis in Arcadia.
Atalanta would subsequently be reunited and reconciled with her father. Atalanta’s father could have wished for no better child, for certainly no son could have brought more prestige to the family. Atalanta though was now of age to be married, and so her father believed that he must find a suitable husband for her. Atalanta though had no wish to retract her sacred oath, and so came up with a plan, whereby she would only marry someone who could best her in a running race. Those who tried to beat her and failed would be executed, with some saying that it was Atalanta who killed the failed suitors. Many potential suitors of Atalanta were dissuaded from trying to marry Atalanta because of the fear of dying, but many more believed that the reward outweighed the risk. There was though no one as fleet of foot as Atalanta, and so many suitors were executed. |
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Atalanta Runs Her Race
Then came one final suitor to try and win the hand in marriage of Atalanta, some call this suitor Melanion, son of Amphidamas, and a cousin of Atalanta, and some name him Hippomenes, son of Megareus.
In either case, the potential suitor recognised that he could not outrun Atalanta, and so prayed to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of beauty and love, for help. Hearing the prayer, Aphrodite decided to help the suitor, and gave to him three golden apples; presumably apples from the Garden of Hera.
The plan was that during the race, whenever Atalanta started to pull too far ahead, Melanion (or Hippomenes) would roll the apple in front of the heroine, who would take the time to retrieve the apple, giving Melanion the chance to overtake Atalanta. The plan would work perfectly in the actual race, and thus with some subterfuge, Atalanta was bested by Melanion in a running race, and the heroine was now married.
In either case, the potential suitor recognised that he could not outrun Atalanta, and so prayed to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of beauty and love, for help. Hearing the prayer, Aphrodite decided to help the suitor, and gave to him three golden apples; presumably apples from the Garden of Hera.
The plan was that during the race, whenever Atalanta started to pull too far ahead, Melanion (or Hippomenes) would roll the apple in front of the heroine, who would take the time to retrieve the apple, giving Melanion the chance to overtake Atalanta. The plan would work perfectly in the actual race, and thus with some subterfuge, Atalanta was bested by Melanion in a running race, and the heroine was now married.
The Downfall of Atalanta
In Greek mythology few heroes lived out their lives happily, and Atalanta was no different for her own downfall was soon at hand.
Melanion overlooked the help that Aphrodite had provided him, and neglected to offer up the expected sacrifice to the goddess. This of course angered Aphrodite, who had her revenge, and caused Melanion and Atalanta to consummate their marriage in a sacred shrine dedicated to Zeus. |
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Such a sacrilegious act could not go unpunished by Zeus, and so the supreme god caused Atalanta and Melanion to be transformed into lions. To the ancient Greeks this was a poetic punishment for it was thought that lions did not mate with each other, but mated instead with leopards.
Thus the prophecy made years before had come true, for the loss of virginity at brought the downfall of Atalanta.
Some do tell that the metamorphoses of Atalanta occurred many years after her marriage.
Thus the prophecy made years before had come true, for the loss of virginity at brought the downfall of Atalanta.
Some do tell that the metamorphoses of Atalanta occurred many years after her marriage.
Parthenopeus Son of Atalanta
At some point though, Atalanta had given birth to a son though, a son called Parthenopeus. The father of this son was said to be Meleager, the god Ares or Melanion (Hippomenes).
Atalanta though had abandoned her son on Mount Parthenius, just as she herself had been abandoned, for the birth of a son, was clear evidence that she was no longer a virgin. Parthenopeus would be rescued by a shepherd, and later would be a named hero in his own, for he was one of the “Seven against Thebes”.
Atalanta though had abandoned her son on Mount Parthenius, just as she herself had been abandoned, for the birth of a son, was clear evidence that she was no longer a virgin. Parthenopeus would be rescued by a shepherd, and later would be a named hero in his own, for he was one of the “Seven against Thebes”.
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