Editing Atalanta (section)

== Mythology ==
===Early life===
[[File:Atalanta Lepautre Louvre MR1804.jpg|thumb|Atalanta. Marble, 1703–1705. Copy by Pierre Lepautre of a Roman work after a Hellenistic original.]]
At birth, Atalanta was taken to [[Mount Parthenion]] to be [[Infant exposure|exposed]] because her father had desired a son.<ref name=":2" /> A she-bear—one of the symbols of Artemis—whose cubs had been recently killed by hunters came upon Atalanta and nursed her until those same hunters discovered her and raised her themselves in the mountains.<ref name=":0" /> Atalanta then grew up to be a swift-footed virgin who eschewed men and devoted herself to the huntress Artemis.<ref name=":2" />

Atalanta modelled herself after Artemis, wearing a simple sleeveless [[tunic]] that reached her knees and living in the [[wilderness]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> While living in the wild, Atalanta slew two [[centaurs]] with her bow and arrows, Rhoecus and Hylaios, after her beauty caught their attention and they attempted to rape her.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

=== The voyage of the Argonauts ===
[[File:Atalanta Peleus Staatliche Antikensammlungen 596.jpg|thumb|274x274px|[[Black-figure pottery]] showing a wrestling match between [[Peleus]] and Atalanta during the funerary games of King [[Pelias]]. In the background, the prize of the duel: the skin and the head of the Calydonian boar.]]
Atalanta is only occasionally mentioned in the legend of the Argonauts;<ref name="Howell & Howell 1989"/><ref name=":8">{{Cite journal|last=Barringer|first=Judith M.|date=1996|title=Atalanta as Model: The Hunter and the Hunted|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25011031|journal=Classical Antiquity|volume=15|issue=1|pages=48–76|doi=10.2307/25011031|jstor=25011031|issn=0278-6656}}</ref> however, her participation is noted in [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Pseudo-Apollodorus]]'s account, which says that during the search for the [[Golden Fleece]], Atalanta, who was invited and invoked the protection of Artemis, sailed with the Argonauts as the only woman among them.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Apollodorus, Library, book 1, chapter 9, section 16|url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0022:text=Library:book=1:chapter=9:section=16|access-date=2021-03-09|website=www.perseus.tufts.edu}}</ref> In [[Diodorus Siculus]]'s account, Atalanta is not only noted to have sailed with the Argonauts but to have fought alongside them at the battle in [[Colchis]], where she, [[Jason]], [[Laertes (father of Odysseus)|Laertes]], and the [[Thespius|sons of Thesipae]] were wounded and later healed by [[Medea]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=DIODORUS SICULUS, LIBRARY OF HISTORY BOOK 4.48.5 - Theoi Classical Texts Library|url=https://www.theoi.com/Text/DiodorusSiculus4C.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-08|website=www.theoi.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061120145847/http://www.theoi.com/Text/DiodorusSiculus4C.html |archive-date=2006-11-20 }}</ref> In the account of [[Apollonius of Rhodes]], Jason prevents Atalanta from joining not because she lacks skill but because as a woman she has the potential to cause strife among men on the ship.<ref>{{Cite web|title=APOLLONIUS RHODIUS, ARGONAUTICA BOOK 1.768 - Theoi Classical Texts Library|url=https://www.theoi.com/Text/ApolloniusRhodius1.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-08|website=www.theoi.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061120121906/http://www.theoi.com/Text/ApolloniusRhodius1.html |archive-date=2006-11-20 }}</ref> 

After the death of King [[Pelias]] in [[Iolcus]], [[funeral games]] were held in which Atalanta defeated [[Peleus]] in a wrestling match.<ref name=":2" /> This match became a popular subject in Greek art.<ref name=Boardman1983/>

=== The Calydonian boar hunt ===
[[File:Wall painting - Meleagros and Atalanta - Pompeii (VI 9 3) - Napoli MAN 8980.jpg|thumb|Fresco depicting Atalanta and [[Meleager]] resting after successfully hunting the [[Calydonian boar]], [[Pompeii]]]]
In an annual celebration, [[Oeneus|King Oeneus]] of [[Calydon]] had forgotten to honour Artemis with a sacrifice in his rites to the gods.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=APOLLODORUS, THE LIBRARY BOOK 1.8.2-3, Theoi Classical Texts Library |url=https://www.theoi.com/Text/Apollodorus1.html#8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061120121407/http://www.theoi.com/Text/Apollodorus1.html |archive-date=2006-11-20 |access-date=2021-03-08 |website=www.theoi.com}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> In anger, she sent the [[Calydonian Boar|Calydonian boar]], a monstrous [[wild boar]] that ravaged the land, cattle, and people, and prevented the crops from being sown.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=PHILOSTRATUS THE YOUNGER, IMAGINES 13 - Theoi Classical Texts Library|url=https://www.theoi.com/Text/PhilostratusYounger2.html#15|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-08|website=www.theoi.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705175432/http://www.theoi.com/Text/PhilostratusYounger2.html |archive-date=2008-07-05 }}</ref> Atalanta was called upon to join [[Meleager]], [[Theseus]], [[Castor and Pollux|Pollux]], [[Telamon]], Peleus, and all those who were part of the Argonaut expedition on the hunt for the boar.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /> Many of the men were angry that a woman was joining them, but Meleager, though having a family of his own, convinced them otherwise as he desired to father a child with Atalanta after hearing of her expertise in archery and beauty while hunting.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=OVID, METAMORPHOSES 8.300 - Theoi Classical Texts Library|url=https://www.theoi.com/Text/OvidMetamorphoses8.html#3|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-08|website=www.theoi.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930182632/http://www.theoi.com/Text/OvidMetamorphoses8.html |archive-date=2007-09-30 }}</ref>

During the hunt [[Hylas|Hyleus]] and [[Ancaeus (son of Lycurgus)|Ancaeus]] were killed, Peleus accidentally killed a fellow hunter and others were wounded. Atalanta drew first blood on the boar with her bow.<ref name=":4" /> 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.<ref name=":4" /> Meleager awarded the hide to Atalanta for her valor,<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Pausanias, Description of Greece, Arcadia, chapter 45, section 2|url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+8.45.2&fromdoc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0160|access-date=2021-03-08|website=www.perseus.tufts.edu}}</ref> but it was taken away by Meleager's uncles, [[Plexippus]] and [[Toxeus]], who considered it dishonorable for a woman to hold such a prize.<ref name=":4" /> In response, Meleager killed his uncles.<ref name=":4" /> [[Althaea (mythology)|Althaea]], Meleager's mother, became grief-stricken after hearing of her brothers’ deaths and threw the log that was tied to her son's life into a fire, killing him.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />

===Footrace===
According to [[Ovid]], before her adventures, Atalanta had consulted an [[oracle]] who prophesied that marriage would be her undoing. As a result, she chose to live in the wilderness.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|title=OVID, METAMORPHOSES 10.560-681 - Theoi Classical Texts Library|url=https://www.theoi.com/Text/OvidMetamorphoses10.html#8|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-08|website=www.theoi.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930185038/http://www.theoi.com/Text/OvidMetamorphoses10.html |archive-date=2007-09-30 }}</ref> After the Calydonian boar hunt, Atalanta was discovered by her father, who accepted her as his daughter and began to arrange a marriage for her.<ref name=":2" /> To prevent this, she agreed to marry only if a suitor could outrun her in a [[footrace]], which swift-footed Atalanta knew was impossible.<ref name=":3" />{{refn|group=note|name=first|Hyginus's Fabulae states that Atalanta's father, King Schoeneus, was the one who arranged for the footrace, as a result of his daughter’s choice to stay a virgin.<ref name=":5" />}} If the suitor was unsuccessful, he would be killed.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" /> Her father agreed to the terms, and many suitors died in the attempt until [[Hippomenes]],<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":9" />{{Refn|group=note|Generally thus named in antiquity, but also known as Melanion.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pausanias, Description of Greece, Elis 1, chapter 19, section 2|url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+5.+19.+2&fromdoc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0160|access-date=2021-03-13|website=www.perseus.tufts.edu.}}</ref><ref name=":2" />}} who fell in love with Atalanta at first sight, appealed for divine help.<ref name=":2" /> Hippomenes knew he could not best Atalanta even with the advantage of a head start, so he prayed to the goddess [[Aphrodite]] for assistance.<ref name=":3" /> Aphrodite, who felt spurned because Atalanta was a devotee of Artemis and rejected love, gave Hippomenes three irresistible [[golden apple]]s.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":9" /> As the race began, Atalanta, wearing armour and carrying weapons, quickly passed Hippomenes, but she was diverted off the path when he tossed an apple for her to retrieve;<ref name=":5" /> each time Atalanta caught up with Hippomenes, he would toss another apple,<ref name=":9" /> ultimately winning the race and Atalanta herself.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" />

Atalanta bore a son, [[Parthenopeus|Parthenopaios]] (who may have been fathered by Meleager or [[Ares]]), who became one of the [[Seven against Thebes]].<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=AESCHYLUS, SEVEN AGAINST THEBES, 526 - Theoi Classical Texts Library|url=https://www.theoi.com/Text/AeschylusSeven.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-08|website=www.theoi.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061120140953/http://www.theoi.com/Text/AeschylusSeven.html |archive-date=2006-11-20 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=DIODORUS SICULUS, LIBRARY OF HISTORY BOOK 4.65-7 - Theoi Classical Texts Library|url=https://www.theoi.com/Text/DiodorusSiculus4D.html#11|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-08|website=www.theoi.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061120145851/http://www.theoi.com/Text/DiodorusSiculus4D.html |archive-date=2006-11-20 }}</ref>

=== Metamorphosis into lions ===
After the footrace, Hippomenes forgot to thank Aphrodite for her aid, and while the couple were out hunting the goddess afflicted them with sexual passion so that they had sex in a sanctuary belonging to either [[Zeus]]<ref name=":5" /> or [[Rhea (mythology)|Rhea]].<ref name=":9" /> They were turned into lions for their sacrilege by either Artemis (angered by Atalanta losing her [[virginity]]), the goddess [[Cybele]], or Zeus himself.<ref name=":2" /> The belief at the time was that lions could not mate with their own species, only with [[leopard]]s; therefore Atalanta and Hippomenes would never be able to have "intercourse of love".<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":8" />