The Story of Atalanta Ryan Janik

Characters Venus-narrator Adonis-listening Atalanta Hippomenes Cybele Beautiful Swift Hippomenes Suitor of Atalanta Cybele Earth Mother Associated w/ Rhea

The Story Atalanta was a beautiful girl that could outrun any man She was lonely and asked the oracle for marriage advise Told, “You don’t need a husband.” Decided to live alone in the woods, rejecting suitors

The Challenge Challenges suitors to race her Win- Atalanta’s marriage Lose- death Hippomenes decides to challenge Atalanta He is extremely confident Must have her hand

The Race Hippomenes asks Venus for her aid with the race She gives him 3 golden apples from a golden tree in Cyprus

The Golden Apples During the race, Atalanta lingers to see Hippomenes’ face, but sprints ahead Twice, he throws down an apple and Atalanta stops to pick it up She catches up and passes though Last apple thrown off course Atalanta takes too much time to pick up and Hippomenes wins

After the Race Hippomenes does not bring incense or thanks to Venus for her help She fills him with desire to take Atalanta while passing a temple to Cybele The gods turn their eyes away, but Cybele is furious She thinks of drowning, but is too easy Turns them into lions, which draw her carriage

Adonis Venus tells Adonis not to attack animals such as lions that do not run away One day, he attacks a boar, but it strikes him Venus turns him into blood-red anemones using nectar Easily blown away, ending life early