Who was Atalanta?

Courtesy of www.johnwilliamgoddard.com

Atalanta is the most famous ancient Greek female athlete, whose legend is preserved not only through the medium of vase painting, but also in the works of the Greek poets, Hesiod and Apollodorus.

According to myth, Atalanta was left exposed by her father King Iasos who had greatly wished for a son. Pitying the infant, the goddess Artemis sent a she-bear to suckle Atalanta who thus grew up in the mountains learning to fight and hunt like a bear.

Patronised by Artemis (the goddess of hunting), Atalanta grew up into a fierce huntress and athlete and later joined in the legendary Calydonian Boar Hunt where she was the first to strike the boar.

After the hunt, Atalanta was recognised by her father who in turn tried to wed her to various suitors. Having no interest in marriage, but seeing no escape, Atalanta challenged her father to find a suitor who could out run her, and if he could, then she would marry him.

Many suitors tried and failed to outrun the athletic prowess of Atalanta, but Hippomenes, after having asked the goddess of love, Aphrodite, for help, finally managed to outrun her.

This was achieved however through trickery, for Aphrodite had secretly given Hippomenes three golden apples to drop during the race so that Atalanta would stop to pick them up. Hippomenes thus won the race and the marriage took place.

Other myths include Atalanta’s wrestling of the hero Peleus at the funeral games for Pelias and also her inclusion among the Greek heroes on Jason’s Argonaut in his search for the Golden Fleece.

More: Atalanta by the MYTH MAN | Wikipedia