Atalanta

Atalanta was a Greek mortal.

Mythology
Atalanta was a mortal huntress that was favored by Artemis. She promised to remain a virgin to the goddess.

Atalanta was one of the Argonauts. She defeated Peleus in a wrestling match.

Atalanta also participated in the Calydonian Boar hunt. She was the first to draw blood from the boar so Meleager awarded her the skin of the boar after it was killed. Meleager's uncles tried to take the skin from Atalanta by force but Meleager killed them. Meleager's mother then threw a charmed log in a fire which caused him to die.

After Atalanta went back to her father, he insisted that she get married. She reluctantly agreed but said that her suitors must beat her in a race. Those that lost would be put to death. Hippomenes knew that he couldn't beat Atalanta so he asked Aphrodite for help. Aphrodite gave Hippomenes three golden apples that would distract Atalanta from the race. Hippomenes used the three apples and won the race.

Hippomenes didn't thank Aphrodite for her help and she drove them mad with lust while they were resting in the temple of Cybele. Their actions offended Cybele and she turned them into lions, which were believed to only be able to breed with leopards.

Family

 * Father: Iasus


 * Husband: Hippomenes