:''This article is about the mythological figure, for other uses see
Meleager (disambiguation).''
In
Greek mythology, 'Meleager' (
Greek: 'Μελέαγρος') was the son of
Althaea and
Oeneus and, according to some accounts father of
Parthenopeus and
Polydora. His story has similarities with the Scandinavian ''
Norna-Gests þáttr''.
When Meleager was born, the
Moirae (the Fates) predicted he would only live until a brand, burning in the family hearth, was consumed by fire. Althaea immediately doused and hid the brand. Meleager married
Cleopatra, daughter of
Idas. However, in some versions, he had to win Atalanta in a footrace, which was aided by
Athena.
Oeneus sent Meleager to gather up heroes to hunt the
Calydonian Boar that had been stalking the area. Among many others, he chose
Atalanta, a fierce huntress, whom he loved. According to one account of the hunt,
Hylaeus and
Rhaecus, two
centaurs, tried to rape Atalanta. Meleager killed them.
Then, Atalanta wounded the boar and Meleager killed it. He awarded her the hide since she had drawn the first drop of blood.
Toxeus and
Plexippus (Althaea's brothers) grew enraged that the prize was given to a woman. Meleager killed them in the following argument. He also killed
Iphicles and
Eurypylus for insulting Atalanta.
Since Meleager had killed her two brothers, Althaea placed the brand back upon the fire, killing him. Later, Meleager was one of the
Argonauts. This may, or may not, have been the same Meleager. With Atalanta, Meleager may have been the father of
Parthenopeus, although in other versions
Hippomenes was his father.
Apollodorus.
Bibliotheke I, viii, 1-3;
Ovid.
Metamorphoses VIII, 269-525;
Homer.
Iliad IX, 529-99.