What is the myth of Atalanta?
Atalanta was born the daughter of a king, but her father, who had wanted a son, exposed her to die in the wilderness. Instead, she was adopted by a mother-bear, who nursed and raised her. Atalanta grew up to be a master hunter and athlete, particularly known for her fleetness of foot.
What is the story of Meleager and Atalanta?
Meleager and Atalanta hunted the Calydonian boar and fell in love during the hunt. When Meleager assisted by Atalanta killed the boar, he offered the boar’s head to Atalanta as a gesture of love. Meleager’s uncles were however deeply offended and in the fight that followed Meleager killed them.
What happened in the story of Atalanta?
She took part in the Calydonian boar hunt; Atalanta drew first blood and was awarded the boar’s head and hide by the boar’s slayer, Meleager, who was in love with her. When his uncles took away the spoils from her, Meleager killed them and was in turn killed by their sister, his own mother.
What mythological creature was wounded by Atalanta?
During the hunt Hyleus and Ancaeus were killed, Peleus accidentally injured a fellow hunter and others were wounded. Atalanta drew first blood on the boar with her bow. After this feat, killing the boar became a collective effort as, after the initial blow, Amphiaraus shot the boar’s eye and Meleager ended its life.
What is the message or moral of the myth Atalanta’s race?
One theme in this story is greed. Atalanta got foiled by her own greed. If she would have not been so greedy and have to go and pick up all three of the golden apples, she wouldn’t have lost. The golden apples are symbols for the things that can distract us from our real goal in life.
Who turned Atalanta into a lion?
Cybele
Atalanta and Hippomenes were turned into lions by Cybele as punishment after having sex in one of her temples they entered to take a rest during their journey to Hippomenes’ home (the Greeks believed that lions could not mate with other lions, but only with leopards).
How did Atalanta lose a race?
Because Hippomenes threw the apple to distract Atalanta from the race, Atalanta lost the race and became Hippomenes’ wife. Aphrodite became jealous and gave Atalanta an apple which killed her.
What is Atalanta’s tragic flaw?
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.