Welcome to Deity Deep Dive! Today we’re exploring the Hero Atalanta.
So, anyone who watches our HeathenGaming YouTube channel(HeathenGamingNG) knows where this is coming from, but for those of you who don’t, you should check it out cuz it’s a fun time, we have started playing Immortals: Fenyx Rising. It’s a story about an Argonaut named Fenyx, and the game references many myths and characters from Greek mythology. I’ve been comparing it to actual mythology the entire time and when things I’m not familiar with get referenced I write it down to look up later. This is the first rabbit hole I’ve gone down from it!
The first thing I had no idea about was the name Atalanta. Fenyx finds the axe of Atalanta in the tutorial. Since my research I have a huge issue with this, and I’ll explain why after I tell you about Atalanta herself.
There are two variations of her myths, one where she’s from Arcadia, the daughter of King Iasus and Clymene, and one where she’s from Boeotia and is the daughter of King Schoeneus. Some scholars think these may be two completely different Atalanta’s, but the myths don’t make any mention about differences.
Atalanta was abandoned and left to die upon birth, her father wanted a son and felt she was worthless. A she-bear found her and since the cubs had been killed by hunters the grieving mother took in the abandoned newborn, nursing her until the same hunters found the girl and started raising her themselves. I found a couple things that said Atalanta stayed with the bear, but most said she was found and taken in by a group of hunters. She grew up to be one of the best among the hunters. An Oracle told her marriage would be her undoing, so she devoted herself to Artemis and vowed celibacy.
She had great archery skills, and even killed two centaurs who tried to rape her with a bow and arrow. Her skills were so great that she is often placed on the Argo, with Jason. Some accounts say she helped get the Golden Fleece, others put her in only the battle of Colchis, and some say Jason told her she couldn’t come for fear of a woman on board causing issues between the men. It is widely accepted that she won a wrestling match against Peleus at the funeral games of King Pelias.
One of the main myths she’s a part of is the Calydonian Boar Hunt. King Oeneus forgot to offer Artemis’ sacrifice at an annual celebration to honor the Gods. Artemis sent the Calydonian boar as punishment. She was included in the Argonaught exposition to slay the boar, though only because Meleager wanted to have an affair with her. She drew first blood, but Meleager dealt the final blow. As a reward for her efforts Meleager gifted her the hide, but his uncles felt it inappropriate and dishonorable. They tried to take her prize from her, and Meleager killed them. In anguish for her now dead brothers, Meleager’s grief ridden mother ended his life as well.
Her second myth is about a foot race. After the boar hunt, she made her way back to her father. Finally willing to accept her he told her she had to pick a suiter. She agreed but wanted potential suiters to make a bet with her first. They were to race her, if the suitor won, she would marry him, if she won Atalanta killed him. Her father agreed to her terms.
Many tried and lost their lives. She even hindered herself by wearing full armor and giving the men a head start, and still she always won. Hippomenes (or Milanion) asked Aphrodite for something to help him win Atalanta’s hand in marriage. The Goddess gave him three golden apples, which he dropped during the race to distract Atalanta, causing her to lose.
After they wed, Hippomenes forgot his obligation to give an offering to Aphrodite. The angry Goddess filled the couple with lust and passion, causing them to make love right where they were. This normally wouldn’t be an issue, but they were unfortunately at a shrine, or something of the sort.
Some say it was for Zeus, others say Rhea, and more say Cybele, and I even found someone who thought maybe Artemis was angry with Atalanta for breaking the vow of celibacy. I like the idea of it being Cybele, because whichever one it was turned the newlyweds into lions, and Cybele has many associations with lions.
Now, this is a weird little fact, but it fits into the story. Apparently scholars think the Greeks thought lions couldn’t mate with each other… They thought lions and leopards mated… but that mentality is why Atalanta and Hippomenes being turned into lions was seen as a curse. I did read something from someone who thinks of it as more of a blessing for them though, a way to escape gender stereotypes. Either way, they got turned into lions by some God or Goddess.
Somewhere along the way Atalanta is said to have had a son, Parthenopaeus. He is known to be one of the seven who fought against Thebes after King Oedipus died. His father is unknown, his placement in her lifetime partially depends on who his father is. Atalanta abandoned him in the same place she was, trying to hide the evidence she was no longer a virgin. He was found by a shepherd and a son of Heracles named Telephus, who was also abandoned by his parents.
I’m super excited to see how they portray Atalanta later in the game. She’s eventually going to be a boss battle, and I’m curious how they handled the rest of her myths since they use an axe as her representing weapon. Also, I realize I probably should differentiate Deities and Heroes, but for now this just goes in with the other Deity Deep Dives. I like alliteration.
Did any of you know about Atalanta before now? Am I missing anything? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
