The Story of Atalanta
Atalanta's father wanted a son, and when a daughter was born, he left her on a mountainside to die. In the best known version, the girl was found by a she bear, who nursed her until hunters took her in. She grew up in the wild, becoming a fearless huntress and the fastest runner in Greece.
Atalanta vowed to stay unmarried and devoted herself to Artemis, the goddess of the hunt. When two centaurs, Rhoecus and Hylaeus, tried to attack her, she shot them both dead. Her skill with the bow soon made her famous.
When Artemis sent a monstrous boar to ravage Calydon, Prince Meleager gathered the finest heroes of Greece to hunt it, and Atalanta joined them. Some of the men grumbled at hunting beside a woman, but she was the first to wound the beast. Meleager killed it and gave her its hide as the prize, a gift that led to a deadly quarrel with his uncles and to his own death.
Atalanta's fame continued to grow. At the funeral games held for King Pelias, she wrestled the hero Peleus and beat him. Some tellings even say she sailed with the Argonauts, though others say Jason refused to take a woman aboard.
Her father later welcomed her home and wanted her to marry. Atalanta agreed, but on one condition: any suitor had to beat her in a footrace, and those who lost would be put to death. Many young men tried and died, because no one could run as fast as she could.
A young man called Hippomenes, or in some tellings Melanion, prayed to Aphrodite for help. The goddess gave him three golden apples, and during the race he dropped them one at a time. Each time Atalanta stopped to pick one up, and Hippomenes crossed the finish line first and won her as his bride.
Hippomenes forgot to thank Aphrodite, and the couple later offended the gods by making love in a sacred sanctuary. As punishment they were turned into lions, which in some tellings were made to pull the chariot of the goddess Cybele. Atalanta was remembered as the mother of Parthenopaeus, one of the Seven Against Thebes, and as one of the boldest heroines of Greek myth.
Famous Myths About Atalanta
Raised by a Bear
Atalanta's father wanted a son, so he left his newborn daughter on a mountainside to die. A she-bear nursed her, and she was raised by hunters, growing into a fearless huntress devoted to Artemis.
The Calydonian Boar
Atalanta joined the heroes who hunted the monstrous Calydonian Boar and was the first to draw its blood with an arrow. Meleager, who killed the beast, awarded her its hide, which caused a deadly quarrel among the hunters.
The Golden Apples
Atalanta agreed to marry only a man who could outrun her, and losers paid with their lives. Hippomenes received three golden apples from Aphrodite and dropped them during the race, and when Atalanta stopped to pick them up, he won.
Turned into Lions
Hippomenes forgot to thank Aphrodite for her help, so the goddess made the couple desecrate a sacred place with their passion. As punishment they were turned into lions and yoked to the chariot of the goddess Cybele.
Atalanta's Family Tree
Parents of Atalanta
Partners of Atalanta
Children of Atalanta
Frequently Asked Questions About Atalanta
Who was Atalanta in Greek mythology?
Atalanta was a famous huntress from Arcadia and the fastest runner of her time. Her father abandoned her as a baby because he wanted a son, and she was nursed by a bear and raised by hunters.
What did Atalanta do in the Calydonian Boar Hunt?
Atalanta was the first to wound the giant boar sent by Artemis. Meleager, who killed it, gave her the boar's skin as the prize, which angered the other hunters.
How did Atalanta lose the footrace?
Atalanta would only marry a man who could beat her in a race. Her suitor Hippomenes dropped three golden apples from Aphrodite along the course, and she stopped to pick them up and lost.
What happened to Atalanta and her husband?
Atalanta and Hippomenes forgot to thank Aphrodite and later made love in a sacred shrine. As punishment, they were turned into lions.
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