Atalanta
The only woman among the Argonauts in some traditions, a virgin huntress raised by bears who could outrun any man and demanded a footrace as the price of marriage.
The Legend of Atalanta
Atalanta was exposed at birth by her father Iasus, who wanted a son. A she-bear sacred to Artemis nursed her, and hunters raised her in the wilderness. She became the fastest runner alive and a deadly archer. Some traditions place her among the Argonauts; she was certainly among the hunters who killed the Calydonian Boar, drawing first blood with her arrow — provoking a deadly quarrel when Meleager awarded her the boar's hide, angering his uncles whom he then killed. Artemis was her patron, and Atalanta swore to remain a virgin. Her father, now recognising her fame, insisted she marry. Atalanta agreed, provided the suitor could beat her in a footrace — losers would die. Hippomenes (or Melanion) won by dropping three golden apples given by Aphrodite, which Atalanta paused to collect. They later desecrated a temple of Zeus or Cybele and were transformed into lions.
Parents
Iasus (or Schoeneus)
Children
Parthenopaeus (in some accounts)
Symbols
Fun Fact
The golden apple trick used to defeat Atalanta is one of mythology's most debated gender moments. Was Atalanta genuinely distracted by shiny objects (a sexist reading), or did she deliberately choose to lose because she wanted Hippomenes (a romantic reading)? Feminist classicists have argued both sides for decades. The myth has become a Rorschach test for attitudes about women, autonomy, and desire in classical scholarship.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Atalanta
🗡 heroThe virgin huntress who outran every suitor
The swift-footed huntress who drew first blood against the Calydonian Boar and was only beaten in a footrace by divine trickery.
Atalanta
🗡 heroSwift-footed huntress
A heroine raised by bears who could outrun any mortal man. Atalanta joined the Argonauts, slew the Calydonian Boar, and would only marry a man who could beat her in a race.
Hippomenes
🗡 heroNone recorded
Suitor who defeated Atalanta in a footrace using three golden apples from Aphrodite
Melanion
🗡 heroRacing, Love, Hunting
Arcadian hunter who won Atalanta in a footrace by using golden apples given by Aphrodite.
Arcas
🗡 heroKingship, hunting, Arcadia
Eponymous founder and king of Arcadia who was nearly tricked into eating his own transformed mother
Eurytion
🗡 heroHunting, archery
Argonaut and skilled hunter who later participated in the Calydonian Boar Hunt
Parthenopaeus
🗡 heroSeven Against Thebes, Youth, Arcadia
Young Arcadian hero, one of the Seven Against Thebes, who died at the city walls before seeing his homeland again.
Harpalyce
🗡 heroFemale Warrior, Revenge, Transformation
Thracian princess raised as a warrior who was transformed into a bird after a cycle of horrific revenge.
Caenus
🗡 heroTransformation, Invulnerability, Gender
Lapith warrior transformed from a woman into an invulnerable man by Poseidon, killed by Centaurs pounding him into the earth.
Periboia
🗡 heroNobility, Adoption, Courage
Athenian noblewoman who joined the tribute sent to Minos and was rescued by Theseus, later marrying Ajax's father Telamon.
Macaria
🗡 heroSelf-Sacrifice, Female Heroism, Heraclidae
Daughter of Heracles who voluntarily sacrificed herself so that the Heraclidae could defeat Eurystheus.
Artemis
⚡ godGoddess of the hunt, wilderness, the moon, childbirth
Twin sister of Apollo and goddess of the hunt. Artemis roamed the wild forests with her band of nymphs, fiercely protecting her virginity and the natural world.