Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Mythology Description An account of the resource Women’s sports in Greek heroic myths. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Source Type Physical type of source Literary source Translation Quick-flying Fame had spread reports of Theseus through the land; and all the peoples of Achaia, from that day, when danger threatened would entreat his aid. So it befell, the land of Calydon, through Meleager and her native hero, implored the valiant Theseus to destroy a raging boar, the ravage of her realm. Diana in her wrath had sent the boar to wreak her vengeance; and they say the cause was this:—The nation had a fruitful year, for which the good king Oeneus had decreed that all should offer the first fruits of corn to Ceres—and to Bacchus wine of grapes— and oil of olives to the golden haired Minerva. Thus, the Gods were all adored, beginning with the lowest to the highest, except alone Diana, and of all the Gods her altars only were neglected. No frankincense unto her was given! Neglect enrages even Deities. “Am I to suffer this indignity?” she cried, “Though I am thus dishonored, I will not be unrevenged!” And so the boar was sent to ravage the fair land of Calydon. And this avenging boar was quite as large as bulls now feeding on the green Epirus, and larger than the bulls of Sicily. A dreadful boar.—His burning, bloodshot eyes seemed coals of living fire, and his rough neck was knotted with stiff muscles, and thick-set with bristles like sharp spikes. A seething froth dripped on his shoulders, and his tusks were like the spoils of Ind. Discordant roars reverberated from his hideous jaws; and lightning—belched forth from his horrid throat— scorched the green fields. He trampled the green corn and doomed the farmer to lament his crops, in vain the threshing-floor has been prepared, in vain the barns await the promised yield. Long branches of the vine and heavy grapes are scattered in confusion, and the fruits and branches of the olive tree, whose leaves should never wither, are cast on the ground. His spleen was vented on the simple flocks, which neither dogs nor shepherd could protect; and the brave bulls could not defend their herds. The people fled in all directions from the fields, for safety to the cities. Terror reigned. There seemed no remedy to save the land, till Meleager chose a band of youths, united for the glory of great deeds. What heroes shall immortal song proclaim? Castor and Pollux, twins of Tyndarus; one famous for his skill in horsemanship, the other for his boxing. Jason, too, was there, the glorious builder of the world's first ship, and Theseus with his friend Perithous, and Toxeus and Plexippus, fated sons of Thestius, and the son of Aphareus, Lynkeus with his fleet-foot brother Idas and Caeneus, first a woman then a man the brave Leucippus and the argonaut Acastus, swift of dart; and warlike Dryas, Hippothous and Phoenix, not then blind, the son of King Amyntor, and the twain who sprung from Actor, Phyleus thither brought from Elis; Telamon was one of them and even Peleus, father of the great Achilles; and the son of Pheres joined, and Iolas, the swift Eurytion, Echion fleet of foot, Narycian Lelex— and Panopeus, and Hyleus and Hippasus, and Nestor (youthful then), and the four sons Hippocoon from eld Amyclae sent, the father-in-law of queen Penelope, Ancaeus of Arcadia, and the wise soothsayer Mopsus, and the prophet, son of Oeclus, victim of a traitor-wife.— And Atalanta, virgin of the groves, of Mount Lycaeus, glory of her sex; a polished buckle fastened her attire; her lustrous hair was fashioned in a knot; her weapons rattled in an ivory case, swung from her white left shoulder, and she held a bow in her left hand. Her face appeared as maidenly for boy, or boyish for girl. When Meleager saw her, he at once longed for her beauty, though some god forbade. The fires of love flamed in him; and he said, “Happy the husband who shall win this girl!” Neither the time nor his own modesty permitted him to say another word. But now the dreadful contest with the boar engaged this hero's energy and thought. A wood, umbrageous, not impaired with age, slopes from a plain and shadows the wide fields, and there this band of valiant heroes went— eager to slay the dreaded enemy, some spread the nets and some let loose the dogs, some traced the wide spoor of the monster's hoofs. There is a deep gorge where the rivulets that gather from the rain, discharge themselves; and there the bending willow, the smooth sedge, the marsh-rush, ozier and tall tangled reed in wild profusion cover up the marsh. Aroused from this retreat the startled boar, as quick as lightning from the clashing clouds crashed all the trees that cumbered his mad way.— The young men raised a shout, leveled their spears, and brandished their keen weapons; but the boar rushed onward through the yelping dogs, and scattered them with deadly sidelong stroke. Echion was the first to hurl his spear, but slanting in its course it only glanced a nearby maple tree, and next the spear of long-remembered Jason cut the air; so swiftly hurled it seemed it might transfix the boar's back, but with over-force it sped beyond the monster. Poising first his dart, the son of Ampyx, as he cast it, he implored Apollo, “Grant my prayer if I have truly worshiped you, harken to me as always I adore you! Let my spear unerring strike its aim.” Apollo heard, and guided the swift spear, but as it sped Diana struck the iron head from the shaft, and the blunt wood fell harmless from his hide. Then was the monster's savage anger roused; as the bright lightning's flash his red eyes flamed; his breath was hot as fire. As when a stone is aimed at walls or strong towers, which protect encompassed armies,—launched by the taut rope it strikes with dreaded impact; so the boar with fatal onset rushed among this band of noble lads, and stretched upon the ground Eupalamon and Pelagon whose guard was on the right; and their companions bore their bodies from the field. Another youth, the brave son of Hippocoon received a deadly wound—while turning to escape, the sinew of his thigh was cut and failed to bear his tottering steps.— And Nestor might have perished then, so long before he fought the heroes of old Troy, but ever wise, he vaulted on his long lance from the ground into the branches of a sheltering tree; where in a safe position, he could look down on his baffled foe. The raging boar whetted his gleaming tushes on an oak. Then with his sharpened tusks he gored the thigh of mighty Hippasus. Observed of all, and mounted on their horses—whiter than the northern snow—the twins (long afterward transformed to constellations) sallied forth, and brandishing their lances, poised in air, determined to destroy the bristling boar. It thwarted their design by hiding in a thicket intricate; where neither steed nor lance could penetrate. But Telamon pursued undaunted, and in haste tripped up by tangled roots, fell headlong.—Peleus stooped to rescue him. While he regained his feet, the virgin, Atalanta, took her bow and fitting a sharp arrow to the notch, twanged the tight cord. The feathered shaft quivered beneath the monster's ear, the red blood stained his hard bristles. Flushed with her success rejoiced the maid, but not more gladly than the hero Meleager. He it was who first observed the blood, and pointed out the stain to his companions as he cried, “Give honor to the courage of a maid!” Unwilling to be worsted by a maid, the rushing heroes raised a mighty cry and as they shouted in excitement, hurled their weapons in confusion; and so great the multitude their actions interfered. Behold! Ancaeus wielding his war-axe, and rushing madly to his fate, exclaimed, “Witness it! See the weapons of a man excel a woman's! Ho, make way for my achievement! Let Diana shield the brute! Despite her utmost effort my right hand shall slaughter him!” So mighty in his boast he puffed himself; and, lifting with both hands his double-edged axe, he stood erect, on tiptoe fiercely bold. The savage boar caught him, and ripped his tushes through his groin, a spot where death is sure.—Ancaeus fell; and his torn entrails and his crimson blood stained the fair verdure of the spot with death. Ixion's doughty son was running straight against the monster, shaking his long lance with nervous vigor in his strong right hand; but Theseus, standing at a distance called: “Beware! beware, O, dearest of my friends; be valiant at a distance, or the fate of rashly-bold Ancaeus may be yours!” Even as he spoke he balanced in his hand his brazen-pointed lance of corner wood; with aim so true it seemed the great boar's death was certain, but an evergreen oak branch shielded the beast.—Then Jason hurled his dart, which turned by chance, transfixed a luckless dog and pinned him yelping, to the sanguine earth.— So fared those heroes. Better fortune gave success to Meleager; first he threw a spear that missed and quivered in the ground; but next he hurled a spear with certain aim. It pierced the middle of the monster's back; and rushing in upon the dreaded beast, while raging it was whirling round and round, the fearless prince provoked to greater rage the wounded adversary. Bloody froth dripped down his champing jaws—his purple blood poured from a rankling wound. Without delay the mighty Meleager plunged a spear deep in the monster's shoulder. All his friends raised a glad shout, and gathering round him, tried to grasp his hand.—With wonder they beheld the monster's bulk stretched out upon the plain; and fearful still to touch him, they began to stain their weapons in his spouting blood. At length the hero Meleager pressed his conquering foot upon the monster's head and said, “O Atalanta, glorious maid, of Nonacris, to you is yielded spoil, my lawful right, and I rejoice to share the merit of this glorious victory.” And while he spoke, he gave to her the pelt, covered with horrid bristles, and the head frightful with gory tusks: and she rejoiced in Meleager and his royal gift. But all the others, envious, began to murmur; and the sons of Thestius levelled their pointed spears, and shouted out; “Give up the prize! Let not the confidence of your great beauty be a snare to you! A woman should not interfering filch the manly honors of a mighty hunt! Aside! and let your witless lover yield!” So threatened they and took from her the prize; and forcibly despoiled him of his rights. The warlike prince, indignant and enraged,— rowed with resentment, shouted out. “What! Ho! You spoilers of this honor that is ours, brave deeds are different far from craven threats!” And with his cruel sword he pierced the breast of rash Plexippus, taken unawares, and while his brother, Toxeus, struck with fear, stood hesitating whether to avenge or run to safety, Meleager plunged the hot sword, smoking with a brother's blood, in his breast also. And so perished they. Translation used Brookes More, Ovid, Metamorphoses, Boston 1922. Text Any textual data included in the document Sparserat Argolicas nomen vaga fama per urbes Theseos, et populi, quos dives Achaia cepit, huius opem magnis imploravere periclis. Huius opem Calydon, quamvis Meleagron haberet, sollicita supplex petiit prece. Causa petendi sus erat, infestae famulus vindexque Dianae. Oenea namque ferunt pleni successibus anni primitias frugum Cereri, sua vina Lyaeo, Palladios flavae latices libasse Minervae. Coeptus ab agricolis superos pervenit ad omnes ambitiosus honor; solas sine ture relictas praeteritae cessasse ferunt Latoidos aras. Tangit et ira deos. “At non impune feremus, quaeque inhonoratae, non et dicemur inultae” inquit, et Oeneos ultorem spreta per agros misit aprum, quanto maiores herbida tauros non habet Epiros, sed habent Sicula arva minores. Sanguine et igne micant oculi, riget horrida cervix, et sactae similes rigidis hastilibus horrent stantque velut vallum, velut alta hastilia saetae fervida cum rauco latos stridore per armos spuma fluit, dentes aequantur dentibus Indis, fulmen ab ore venit, frondes adflatibus ardent. Is modo crescentes segetes proculcat in herba, nunc matura metit fleturi vota coloni et Cererem in spicis intercipit. Area frustra et frustra exspectant promissas horrea messes. Sternuntur gravidi longo cum palmite fetus bacaque cum ramis semper frondentis olivae. Saevit et in pecudes: non has pastorve canisve, non armenta truces possunt defendere tauri. Diffugiunt populi nec se nisi moenibus urbis esse putant tutos, donec Meleagros et una lecta manus iuvenum coiere cupidine laudis: Tyndaridae gemini, spectatus caestibus alter, alter equo, primaeque ratis molitor Iason, et cum Pirithoo, felix concordia, Theseus; et duo Thestiadae prolesque Aphareia, Lynceus et velox Idas, et iam non femina Caeneus Leucippusque ferox iaculoque insignis Acastus Hippothousque Dryasque et cretus Amyntore Phoenix, Actoridaeque pares et missus ab Elide Phyleus. Nec Telamon aberat magnique creator Achillis cumque Pheretiade et Hyanteo Iolao impiger Eurytion, et cursu invictus Echion, Naryciusque Lelex Panopeusque Hyleusque feroxque Hippasus et primis etiamnum Nestor in annis, et quos Hippocoon antiquis misit Amyclis, Penelopaeque socer cum Parrhasio Ancaeo, Ampycidesque sagax et adhuc a coniuge tutus Oeclides, nemorisque decus Tegeaea Lycaei. Rasilis huic summam mordebat fibula vestem, crinis erat simplex, nodum conlectus in unum. Ex umero pendens resonabat eburnea laevo telorum custos, arcum quoque laeva tenebat. Talis erat cultu; facies, quam dicere vere virgineam in puero, puerilem in virgine possis. Hanc pariter vidit, pariter Calydonius heros optavit renuente deo flammasque latentes hausit et “o felix, siquem dignabitur” inquit “ista virum.” Nec plura sinit tempusque pudorque dicere: maius opus magni certaminis urget. Silva frequens trabibus, quam nulla ceciderat aetas, incipit a plano devexaque prospicit arva. Quo postquam venere viri, pars retia tendunt, vincula pars adimunt canibus, pars pressa sequuntur signa pedum cupiuntque suum reperire periclum. Concava vallis erat, quo se demittere rivi adsuerant pluvialis aquae: tenet ima lacunae lenta salix ulvaeque leves iuncique palustres viminaque et longa parvae sub harundine cannae. Hinc aper excitus medios violentus in hostes fertur, ut excussis elisi nubibus ignes. Sternitur incursu nemus et propulsa fragorem silva dat. Exclamant iuvenes praetentaque forti tela tenent dextra lato vibrantia ferro. Ille ruit spargitque canes, ut quisque furenti obstat, et obliquo latrantes dissipat ictu. Cuspis Echionio primum contorta lacerto vana fuit truncoque dedit leve vulnus acerno. Proxima, si nimiis mittentis viribus usa non foret, in tergo visa est haesura petito: longius it. Auctor teli Pagasaeus Iason. “Phoebe,” ait Ampycides “si te coluique coloque, da mihi quod petitur certo contingere telo!” Qua potuit, precibus deus adnuit: ictus ab illo est, sed sine vulnere, aper; ferrum Diana volanti abstulerat iaculo: lignum sine acumine venit. Ira feri mota est, nec fulmine lenius arsit: emicat ex oculis, spirat quoque pectore flamma. Utque volat moles adducto concita nervo, cum petit aut muros aut plenas milite turres, in iuvenes certo sic impete vulnificus sus fertur et Hippalmon Pelagonaque, dextra tuentes cornua, prosternit; socii rapuere iacentes. At non letiferos effugit Enaesimus ictus, Hippocoonte satus: trepidantem et terga parantem vertere succiso liquerunt poplite nervi. Forsitan et Pylius citra Troiana perisset tempora: sed sumpto posita conamine ab hasta arboris insiluit, quae stabat proxima, ramis despexitque, loco tutus, quem fugerat hostem. Dentibus ille ferox in querno stipite tritis inminet exitio fidensque recentibus armis Eurytidae magni rostro femur hausit adunco. At gemini, nondum caelestia sidera, fratres, ambo conspicui, nive candidioribus ambo vectabantur equis, ambo vibrata per auras hastarum tremulo quatiebant spicula motu. Vulnera fecissent, nisi saetiger inter opacas nec iaculis isset nec equo loca pervia silvas. Persequitur Telamon studioque incautus eundi pronus ab arborea cecidit radice retentus. Dum levat hunc Peleus, celerem Tegeaea sagittam imposuit nervo sinuatoque expulit arcu. Fixa sub aure feri summum destrinxit harundo corpus et exiguo rubefecit sanguine saetas. Nec tamen illa sui successu laetior ictus, quam Meleagros erat. Primus vidisse putatur et primus sociis visum ostendisse cruorem et “meritum” dixisse “feres virtutis honorem.” Erubuere viri seque exhortantur et addunt cum clamore animos iaciuntque sine ordine tela: turba nocet iactis et, quos petit, impedit ictus. Ecce furens contra sua fata bipennifer Arcas “discite, femineis quid tela virilia praestent, o iuvenes, operique meo concedite!” dixit. “Ipsa suis licet hunc Latonia protegat armis, invita tamen hunc perimet mea dextra Diana.” Talia magniloquo tumidus memoraverat ore ancipitemque manu tollens utraque securim institerat digitis, primos suspensus in artus. Occupat audentem, quaque est via proxima leto, summa ferus geminos direxit ad inguina dentes. Concidit Ancaeus glomerataque sanguine multo viscera lapsa fluunt: madefacta est terra cruore. Ibat in adversum proles Ixionis hostem Pirithous valida quatiens venabula dextra. Cui “procul” Aegides “o me mihi carior” inquit “pars animae consiste meae! licet eminus esse fortibus: Ancaeo nocuit temeraria virtus.” Dixit et aerata torsit grave cuspide cornum. Quo bene librato votique potente futuro, obstitit abscisa frondosus ab arbore ramus. Misit et Aesonides iaculum: quod casus ab illo vertit in inmeriti fatum latrantis et inter ilia coniectum tellure per ilia fixum est. At manus Oenidae variat, missisque duabus hasta prior terra, medio stetit altera tergo. Nec mora, dum saevit, dum corpora versat in orbem stridentemque novo spumam cum sanguine fundit, vulneris auctor adest hostemque inritat ad iram splendidaque adversos venabula condit in armos. Gaudia testantur socii clamore secundo victricemque petunt dextrae coniungere dextram inmanemque ferum multa tellure iacentem mirantes spectant, neque adhuc contingere tutum esse putant; sed tela tamen sua quisque cruentat. Ipse pede imposito caput exitiabile pressit atque ita “sume mei spolium, Nonacria, iuris,” dixit “et in partem veniat mea gloria tecum.” Protinus exuvias rigidis horrentia saetis terga dat et magnis insignia dentibus ora. Illi laetitiae est cum munere muneris auctor: invidere alii, totoque erat agmine murmur. E quibus ingenti tendentes bracchia voce “pone age nec titulos intercipe, femina, nostros,” Thestiadae clamant “nec te fiducia formae decipiat, ne sit longe tibi captus amore auctor” et huic adimunt munus, ius muneris illi. Non tulit et tumida frendens Mavortius ira “discite, raptores alieni” dixit “honoris, facta minis quantum distent,” hausitque nefando pectora Plexippi nil tale timentia ferro. Toxea, quid faciat, dubium pariterque volentem ulcisci fratrem fraternaque fata timentem haud patitur dubitare diu calidumque priori caede recalfecit consorti sanguine telum. Edition used Hugo Magnus (ed.), Die Metamorphosen des P. Ovidius Naso, vol. 1–3, Gotha 1892–1919. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Ovidius, Metamorphoses 8. 267–444: Atalanta in the Calydonian boar hunt Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ovidius Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 47 BCE - 17 CE Type The nature or genre of the resource Poetry Atalanta hunt Meleager