Daniel IsaacAryan GuptaHavyn Colon

The heroine of this myth, Atalanta’s parentage is uncertain (her father has been listed as both Iasus and Schoenius)

Father dropped her off on mountainside after birth because he was disappointed she wasn’t a boy

Taken in by she-bear, raised by hunters who taught her their trade (in which she surpassed them)

Strong Muscular Skilled with a

bow Adventurous,

bold “Hard-to-get”

• Proud• Foolish (at times)

Once, while Atalanta was strolling through the forest, two Centaurs (deadly creatures) attacked

Atalanta sniped both down with only two arrows

Note: A centaur is a combination of a man and a horse.Picture: A centaur as represented in the Narnia films

King Oeneus (Calydonian king) summoned heroes

Atalanta and several other warriors (all men) journey to Calydon

Oeneus’ son, Meleager, fell hard for Atalanta

The son of King Oeneus

Had a terrible curse laid on him after his birth “The Fates” appeared to his mom and told

her that if a particular ash log (which they gave to her) were to burn, her son would die

One day, Atalanta, Meleager and other warriors went out and hunt a Calydonian boar The Calydonian boar quickly killed

three of the seasoned warriors, like any self-respecting Calydonian boar would

Atalanta critically wounded the boar, Meleager finished it off, then rewarded her with the skin

His uncles, already annoyed with the notion of hunting with a woman, were infuriated and challenged Meleager’s right to award the skin to anyone

Meleager decided to kill his uncles for challenging him, murdered them in cold blood without warning

When news reached his mom, she was filled with rage over her brothers’ murder and tossed the ash log into the fire, killing her son instantly-she hung herself after

Our heroine later wrestled (and beat) the great hero Peleus (future father of Achilles)

Tracked down her parents and lived with them Her father, oddly enough,

was finally fine with Atalanta when he saw how boyish she was

(Atalanta crushing Peleus)

Many young men sought after her because she could hunt and shoot

Unfortunately for them, Atalanta preferred to stay free, so she came up with a way to get rid of them

She boldly declared she would marry any man who could beat her in a footrace

Aphrodite decided Atalanta had been unmarried long enough and blessed a young man (either named Melanion or Hippomenes) with three irrestible golden apples.

He then challenged Atalanta to a race…

Aphrodite easily began to outrun Melanion

At that point, he dropped two golden apples in succession-Atalanta fell back and grabbed both, then came back toe-to-toe with him

As they closed in on the finish line, he dropped the third off the course

Unable to stop herself, she detoured and picked up the third while Melanion crossed the finish line

Her fate sealed, she was forced by her own word to be married and give up her freedom

In the myths surrounding Atalanta, the cultural norms of her time concerning women are repeatedly challenged and violated

Atalanta seems to represent wild, natural freedom- raised un-tethered by social norms, she shows an ability to do manly tasks just as well as any man

Yet at the end of this tale, Atalanta is finally “tamed” and bound by her word to a man, her freedom destroyed by her vulnerability to the apples

A fascinating tale, this myth shows a challenge to the social norms for women and their eventual triumph over the rebellious Atalanta through her inescapable human folly

Archetypes present in this myth include: (Situation) The Fall – The tale ends with a descent from a freer, more

individualistic state to a binding relationship to someone she doesn’t love. (Theme) Pride Goes Before a Fall – Atalanta, confident in her own ability, does not

forsee Melanion’s cunning and loses the race (Symbol) Supernatural Intervention – Melanion gets the golden apples with

Aphrodite’s assistance (Symbol) The number three – Three represents unity and the male principle;

three golden apples were used by the clever suitor to trick our heroine (Setting) The Forest – It is in the forest where Atalanta experiences the most of

her freedom, her unrestrained natural state of being- the forest represents unrestrained, primitive nature.

(Character) The Hero (Obviously…) – Atalanta, obviously, is the heroine of this story, portrayed with outstanding abilities and endures great hardship