The myth of Atalanta, the beautiful huntress

The myth of Atalanta tells us about a strong and self-sufficient female figure, something unusual in Greek mythology. She is known as the beautiful huntress because she He dedicated himself precisely to that activity, which he loved and developed with enormous skill.

According to the myth of Atalanta, when she was born the oracle She said that if she ever got married, she would be turned into an animal. She was the daughter of Escheneus and Clymene, two characters who came from the Boeotian culture, in Western Greece. The truth is that her father was definitely expecting a boy and did not in any way want to have a female daughter.

Therefore, the father had no qualms about abandoning his little daughter on the side of a mountain as soon as she was born. However, a bear took pity on the little girl. The myth of Atalanta says that the animal nursed her and took care of her, until some hunters found her and decided to adopt her. to the little one.

The myth of Atalanta, a strong woman

The Atalanta myth says that this woman was not exactly characterized by being very feminine. Her rugged origins made her passionate about nature and hunting. She soon became a beautiful woman, but she did not want to be like others. So he decided to consecrate his life to the goddess Artemis, protector of hunting and imitating divinity in everything.

The cult of Artemis required her to remain a virgin throughout her life and Atalanta had no problem with that. She also called her to stay among the mountains and fields and dedicate herself fully to hunting. That’s why, Atalanta developed great skills physical and learned to handle weapons with great skill, especially the javelin.

The myth of Atalanta tells that on one occasion two centaurs, called Hyleus and Reco, tried to rape the girl, subjugated by her beauty. Centaurs were beings that had the head, arms and torso of a human, and the body and legs of a horse. Most of them were wild and allowed themselves to be dominated by their animal passions. The girl faced them and defeated them.

Atalanta’s bravery

Atalanta was a woman fond of combat and adventure. She is said to have been the only woman who accompanied the expedition of Jason and the Argonauts.

However, What made her famous was her participation in the wild boar hunt. of Calydon. It is said that the other hunters refused to let her accompany them, but the hero Meleager allowed the girl to join the group.

The myth of Atalanta indicates that she was the first to cause wounds to the beast, a fact of which Meleager witnessed. This hero was the one who finally killed the animal, but gave the skin to the woman, in honor of the courage she had shown.

Later, Meleager’s uncles opposed giving the girl that award, because they considered her unworthy of it. However, the hero confronted his family and finally killed them for opposing his decision. Then, he returned the boar’s skin to Atalanta, which was highly respected by everyone from then on.

love and tragedy

Because she was a servant of the goddess Artemis, because of the oracle that existed at the time of her birth and because of her own character, Atalanta was reluctant to join any man. However, her suitors abounded and besieged her. To put an end to the hassle, The woman announced that she would marry only the man who was capable of beating her in a race. However, if the man lost, she would kill him.

Despite the terrible warning, there were many who signed up for an athletic competition with her. However, all, without exception, were defeated. There were already many in the account until a young man named Hippomenes appeared, whom Aphrodite, goddess of love, wanted to help.

Aphrodite gave him some golden apples, which came from the famous garden of the Hesperides. So when the usual race took place, The young man began to drop the apples one by one. Atalanta, enthralled by the beauty of those magnificent fruits, stopped to pick them every time Hippomenes dropped them. That’s why she lost time and was defeated in the race.

The two young men married and were happy hunting and fighting side by side for some time. However, they made love at the time of Cybele, goddess of Mother Earth, and she became angry. That’s why he turned the couple into lions and condemned them to pull his chariot forever. The Cibeles fountain, on Paseo del Prado, in Madrid, recalls the myth of Atalanta.

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