Calydonian Boar
The Calydonian Boar was a massive, destructive beast sent by Artemis to ravage Calydon after King Oeneus forgot to honour her in sacrifice.
The Myth of Calydonian Boar
The Calydonian Boar was sent by Artemis to ravage the kingdom of Calydon after King Oeneus forgot to include her in his harvest sacrifices to the gods. The monstrous beast destroyed crops, killed livestock and men, and terrorised the countryside. Prince Meleager assembled the greatest heroes in Greece for the hunt: Theseus from Athens, the Dioscuri from Sparta, Peleus (father of Achilles), Telamon (father of Ajax), Jason, and the huntress Atalanta. It was Atalanta who drew first blood, and Meleager who delivered the killing blow. He awarded the hide to Atalanta, sparking a fatal quarrel with his uncles that led to his own death — a tragedy that echoed the wrath of the gods across Olympus.
Parents
Sent by Artemis
Symbols
Fun Fact
The Calydonian Boar Hunt appears on the François Vase (c. 570 BC), where each hero is labelled by name — an ancient "team photo."
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Erymanthian Boar
🐉 creatureGiant boar of Mount Erymanthos
The Erymanthian Boar was a gigantic wild boar that ravaged the lands around Mount Erymanthos in Arcadia — the fourth labour of Heracles.
Crommyonian Sow
🐉 creatureDestruction, monsters
Monstrous wild sow that terrorised the region of Crommyon until it was slain by the young Theseus
Calydonian Boar Hunt
💭 conceptNarrative
The great hunt that assembled heroes from across Greece to destroy a divine boar sent by the wrathful Artemis
Calydon
🏛 placegeography
An Aetolian city whose king's neglect of Artemis brought a devastating divine boar to ravage the land.
Nemean Lion
🐉 creatureInvulnerable beast of Nemea
The Nemean Lion was a monstrous lion with an impenetrable golden hide that no weapon could pierce — the first of Heracles' twelve labours.
Phaea
🗡 heroNone recorded
Monstrous sow of Crommyon that terrorised the countryside until slain by Theseus
Meleager
🗡 heroLeader of the Calydonian Boar Hunt
Meleager's life was bound to a burning log.
Orthrus
🐉 creatureTwo-headed dog of Geryon
Orthrus was a fearsome two-headed dog who guarded the cattle of the three-bodied giant Geryon at the western edge of the world.
Minotaur
🐉 creatureBull-headed monster of the Labyrinth
A monster with the body of a man and the head of a bull, imprisoned in the Labyrinth beneath Crete. The Minotaur was fed Athenian youths until Theseus slew it.
Cretan Bull
🐉 creaturelabour, Crete
The magnificent bull sent by Poseidon to Minos that became the father of the Minotaur, later captured by Heracles as his seventh labour.
Polyphemus
🐉 creaturesavagery
One-eyed giant son of Poseidon who trapped Odysseus and ate six of his men before being blinded with a burning stake.
Ophiotaurus
🐉 creaturehybrid creatures
A creature half bull and half serpent whose entrails, if burned, could grant power to overthrow the gods