Atalanta tells the myth of the human princess left on an Arcadian mountainside as a baby. She was found by Artemis who placed her with a bear and her cubs. When the bears left her, Atalanta lived with Artemis and her nymphs. Atalanta was super strong and very fast – she fought off and killed two centaurs who tried to harm her.
When Artemis learned of this, she sent Atalanta on a quest with Jason and the Argonauts to retrieve the Golden Fleece. Artemis made her promise never to marry because she’d lose herself according to a prophesy.
After the quest has been completed, Atalanta returns to the forest where she lived with Artemis and the nymphs. Even though she didn’t wed, she had lain with a man and was pregnant – a feat punishable by death according to Artemis, the virgin goddess. Because she did go on a quest and successfully completed it, Atalanta was banished from Artemis’ inner circle and she was no longer allowed to speak to the nymphs.
Her father, King Iasus, has no heirs and learned that his baby girl survived. Atalanta’s friend Hippomenes took her to her father and Iasus decreed Atalanta should marry. She agreed that if a man could best her in a footrace, she would consent to marriage. Several men tried, however, all failed, until Hippomenes agreed to race her and prayed to Aphrodite for help… and he won the footrace!
I love Greek Mythology, thanks to my history teacher in secondary school – he made them come alive. Then, in my mid twenties I lived in Greece for a while and I felt like I was breathing in the mythology at Knossos in Heraklion, Crete, and the Asklepion on Cos… the Acropolis in Athens, to mention a few.
I absolutely adored this book, Jennifer Saint is a great storyteller and this retelling was great! I didn’t remember much of the myth of Atalanta, the Argonaut.
Read for The 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2025
Prompt 13: Title is Ten Letters or Less
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
