Early Life and Boar Hunt
Atalanta in known for being a very fast and good huntress. Atalanta is the daughter of Iasus of Arcadia. Atalanta was left to die at birth on a hill, but a mother bear came and took care of her. When Atalanta grew up she took place in a Calydonian boar hunt. She got first blood on the boar and she was given the head and hide of the boar by the killer, named Meleager. “Atalanta kept her head and wounded the boar. Her arrow was the first to strike it.”-Mythology. Meleager was in love Atalanta but she had no interest in marrying men and Meleager ended up dying soon after the boar hunt.
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Atalanta and the Foot Races
Even though Atalanta had no desire to get married she said any man who could beat her in a foot race would marry her. “… she declared that she would marry whoever could beat her in a foot race, knowing well that there was no such man alive.”-Mythology. Many men tried and failed until one man named Hippomenes, also called Melanion in other stories, used his brain. He asked Aphrodite to help him win and she gave him three irresistible golden apples. As they raced he would throw the apples over his shoulder and Atalanta would go for them, which would give him time to gain ground and eventually win. Since Hippomenes won, they got married and spent the rest of their lives together.
End of Life & Extra Facts
After their lives together were over both Atalanta and her husband were turned into lions by Zeus. Before they were turned into lions Atalanta a son named Pathenopaeus, who was one of the people who fought against Thebes. Atalanta is also thought to be one of the sailors on the Argo on the quest for the golden fleece even though she is not specifically mentioned in the story. It is highly likely that she was one of the sailors on the Argo because she liked adventures and challenges.