Myth

Atalanta’s Race

In ancient Greece, in the city of Boeotia, there lived a beautiful princess named Atalanta. She was famous for her speed. She loved to run and was faster than anyone in the kingdom.

One day her father, the king, decided that it was time for her to get married. However, Atalanta did not want to marry anyone … yet.

“I will only marry a man who can beat me in a race,” she told her father. She was sure that no one could outrun her.

Many young men came to race for her hand in marriage, but Atalanta beat them all. Then Hippomenes, a prince from a distant kingdom, arrived. He fell in love with Atalanta at first sight and decided that he must marry her. He went to speak to the king.

“Let me race against Atalanta,” he said. “If I win, I get to marry her. If she wins, she will have the honor of defeating me.”

The king accepted Hippomenes’s offer, and the date of the race was set. Hippomenes went for a run outside the city. He knew he would have to work hard to win.

Suddenly, a beautiful woman appeared before him. It was Aphrodite, the goddess of love.

“I will help you win the race,” she said and held out her hand. “Take these three gold apples and use them wisely.”

Hippomenes was not sure how the apples would help him, but he thanked the goddess and put them in his pocket.