The Myth Of Atalanta, The Beautiful Huntress

The myth of Atalanta speaks to us of a strong and self-sufficient female figure, very rare in Greek mythology. She is known as the beautiful huntress because she is dedicated to that activity which she loved and developed with enormous skill.

The myth of Atalanta tells us that at her birth the oracle said that if she ever married, she would turn into an animal. She was the daughter of Iaso, king of Arcadia, and Climene, two characters who came from the Boeotian culture in western Greece. Her father was expecting a boy and absolutely did not want to have a daughter.

At the birth of Atalanta, Iaso had no qualms about abandoning his daughter on the slopes of a mountain while he was still in swaddling clothes, but a bear took pity on the little creature. The myth of Atalanta tells that the animal nursed her and took care of her, until the hunters found her and decided to adopt the child.

The myth of Atalanta, a strong woman

The myth of Atalanta tells that this woman did not have very feminine tastes. Her wild origin made her a lover of nature and hunting. She soon became a beautiful woman, but she didn’t want to be like the others. So he decided to consecrate his life to the goddess Artemis, protector of the hunt, and imitate her in everything.

The cult of Artemis required her to remain a virgin for life and Atalanta had no problem with that. Her dedication forced her to stay in the mountains and fields and devote herself completely to hunting. For this reason, Atalanta developed great physical skills and learned to handle weapons with great skill, especially the javelin.

The myth of Atalanta tells that one day two centaurs, named Ileo and Reco, tried to rape her, fascinated by her beauty. Centaurs were mythological beings who had the head, arms and torso of humans and the body and legs of a horse. Many of them were wild and let themselves be carried away by their animalistic passions. The girl confronted them and killed them with her bow.

The courage of Atalanta

Atalanta was a woman passionate about struggles and adventures. It is said that she was the only woman present during the expedition of Jason and the Argonauts.

To make it famous, however, it was his participation in the ca c cia to Calydonian boar . It is said that the other hunters had refused to accompany her, but the hero Meleager allowed the girl to join the group.

The myth of Atalanta tells that she was the first to cause wounds to the beast, a fact that Meleager witnessed. It was the hero who eventually killed the animal, but he gave the woman the skin, in honor of the courage she had shown.

Later, Meleager’s uncles opposed the prize awarded to the girl, because they considered her unworthy of such an award. However, the hero confronted his relatives and eventually killed them for opposing his decision. Then, he returned the boar skin to Atalanta, who has since been a highly respected figure by all.

Love and tragedy

Because she was the servant of the goddess Artemis, and due to the vision of the oracle at her birth and her character, Atalanta was reluctant to join any man. However, suitors abounded and besieged it. To put an end to the problem, the woman announced that she would marry only the man who could beat her in a race. If the man had lost, however, he would have killed him.

Despite the terrible warning, there were many who signed up for the athletic race and challenged Atalanta. Despite this, all, without exception, were defeated. Many had already passed when a young man named Melanion (or Hippomenes) appeared, whom Aphrodite, the goddess of love, wanted to help.

Aphrodite gave him golden apples, which came from the famous garden of the Hesperides. So, when the usual running competition took place, the young man began to drop the apples one by one. Atalanta, enraptured by the beauty of these magnificent fruits, stopped to pick them every time Melanione dropped them. In this way, he lost time and the race.

The two young men married and lived happily, hunting and fighting side by side for some time. However, they infuriated Aphrodite, offended at having discovered them loving each other in a temple dedicated to Cybele, goddess of Mother Earth. Thus it was that he turned the couple into lions and condemned them to pull his chariot forever. The fountain of Cybele, in the Paseo del Prado, in Madrid, recalls the myth of Atalanta.