Once upon a time, the fair maid Atalanta, the daughter of Schoeneus, was extremely beautiful and extremely swift-footed. Many suitors approached her. She consulted an oracle to know her fate after marriage. The oracle replied that marriage would harm her, but she would not avoid her harm, and while living she would lose herself.

Scared by the words of the oracle, she decided not to marry and repulsed every suitor. Nevertheless, the power of her beauty attracted throngs of suitors. Hence, she set a condition that the suitors must race with her, and if a suitor won then he could marry her, otherwise he would be put to death. Even the prospect of death did not frighten the suitors, and they came for the race.

Hippomenes, the son of Megareus of Onchestus, and a descendant of Neptune, had come to the race as a stranger, wondering why so many youths risked dying only to seek a wife. But when he saw Atalanta’s amazingly beautiful face and her perfect form, which was suitably disrobed for running, the flames of love leapt in his heart. He understood the value of the prize, which was indeed worth dying for, not once, but over and over again.

Reasoning that gods helped those who showed courage, he thought of taking part in the race and while he was still thinking, the race started. Atalanta flew past him, swiftly as a Scythian arrow. It seemed that her feet were borne on wings, and the breeze threw back the flying streamers fixed on her speedy ankles. The colorful ribbons tied neatly at her knees fluttered rapidly, the wind flung her hair over her snowy shoulders, and her Venus-like perfect form acquired a pink flush. Spellbound, Hippomenes gazed in wonder, as Atalanta reached her goal, leaving all the suitors far behind. The festal wreath was crowned on Atalanta’s proud head, and the suitors suffered death.

After seeing the beautiful Atalanta, the love-crazed heart of Hippomenes, burned all the more, to win her.

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Excerpt from the book “Once Upon A Time-II: 150 Greek Mythology Stories” by Rajen Jani

Once upon a time, Hippomenes, the son of Megareus of Onchestus, witnessed a race, wherein the suitors of the swift-footed maid Atalanta, the daughter of Schoeneus, were defeated by her and according to the stipulated conditions of the race, were put to death.

Without any fright of the deathly result, Hippomenes boldly stood up in the midst of the crowd. Fixing his strong gaze upon Atalanta, he told her that there was no glory in defeating weaklings. However, it would be glorious if she vanquished him, for he was the descendant of Neptune, and was also known as the great Hippomenes, since he had never disgraced his famous descent.

While Hippomenes was speaking, the gaze of Atalanta softened, for although his beauty was not comparable to hers, yet, she was moved by his youthfulness, courage, and fearlessness. She thought perhaps some god jealous of youth, must have prompted him to challenge her and thus, take his life away. Seeing that he was madly in love with her, she almost thought of wishing his victory. But she knew that he would be beaten and would die, simply because he wanted to live with her. If fate had not denied her marriage, then she would have willingly shared her bed with him, and no one else. Vacillating between the desire to conquer him and the desire to be conquered by him, the unbalanced heart of the innocent virgin Atalanta, fell in love with Hippomenes.

She told Hippomenes to choose a long life by going away, for a match with her was deadly. She told him not to risk his youth for her beauty, since surely there would be numerous fair maids, who would gladly seek his love. Hippomenes did not budge and Atalanta accepted to race with him. Hippomenes as a suppliant, earnestly supplicated in an anxious voice to Venus, the goddess of Love, to be near him, to help with his daring and graciously smile on the love, which she had inspired in his heart.

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Excerpt from the book “Once Upon A Time-II: 150 Greek Mythology Stories” by Rajen Jani

Once upon a time, Hippomenes, the son of Megareus of Onchestus, participated in a race with Atalanta, the daughter of Schoeneus, on the condition that if he won, he would make Atalanta his bride, else he would lose his life.

Hippomenes prayed to goddess Venus for help, and an unenvious breeze wafted the prayer to her. At that time, Venus was at the Field Tamasus in Cyprus, where grew a golden apple tree. From this tree, Venus had plucked three golden apples and by chance, they were in her hands when she heard the supplication of Hippomenes. Thus, she decided to help him with the three golden apples. Invisible to all, Venus gave the three golden apples to Hippomenes, and informed him how to use them.

The trumpet sounded and the race began. Both of them ran so fast that their feet barely touched the ground, and it seemed as if they were flying. Then Hippomenes tossed a golden apple. Eager to pick up the rolling golden fruit, Atalanta strayed away from the course, and the crowd cheered as the daring youth got the lead.

However, the speedy maid caught up with him. Hippomenes again tossed another apple, again she turned to pick it up, and again the swift fair maid recovered lost time.
As the end approached, both were running near to each other. Praying to Venus, Hippomenes tossed the last apple with all his might, far away. Atalanta hesitated to pick up the third apple as the end was near, but Venus forced her to turn. Venus also made the apple heavy, so that Atalanta was hindered by both weight and loss of time. Atalanta picked up the heavy apple, fast recovered lost time and came almost parallel to Hippomenes, but Hippomenes reached the end first. The crowd erupted in ecstatic cheers and shouts. Hippomenes laughed in joy at winning the race and also winning a bride. The virgin Atalanta also laughed, as she lost the race but gained a loving husband. The joyous Hippomenes married the equally joyous Atalanta.

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Excerpt from the book “Once Upon A Time-II: 150 Greek Mythology Stories” by Rajen Jani

Once upon a time, the goddess Venus had helped Hippomenes, the son of Megareus, by giving him three golden apples, due to which Hippomenes won a race against the fleet-footed virgin Atalanta, the daughter of Schoeneus, and Hippomenes married Atalanta.

But the ungrateful Hippomenes forgot the help of Venus. Neither did he offer any prayer of thanks to Venus, nor did he offer sweet frankincense at her altar. Such unthankful conduct made Venus furious and being thus slighted, she thought of making an example of them, so that she may not be neglected by any one in future.

When Hippomenes and Atalanta were traveling in a forest, they came across an ancient temple, which glorious Echion had long ago constructed, in due payment for a vow to Rhea, the mother of the gods. Weary from their traveling and needing rest, when they saw the old temple concealed in the forest, they gladly relaxed in the sacred place. At that moment, Venus caused the heart of Hippomenes to be seized with an irresistible passion. Atalanta responded to his passion, and the lovers looked around for a place, to calm their burning passion.

Very near to the temple, there was a pumice covered place that resembled like a cave. The past had hallowed the place with religious veneration, and within the shadows of that cave-like place, a priest had installed several wooden idols of ancient gods. Hippomenes and Atalanta, inflamed with passion, entered this holy place and defiled it.

The images of the ancient gods turned their eyes away. Cybele, the tower-crowned mother goddess, was furious and initially, thought of plunging the guilt-ridden pair under the waves of river Styx, but this punishment seemed light compared to the weight of their crime. Hence, she changed their forms to fierce lions, who roamed the woods as a suitable bridal-place for their vicious natures, and who could only be harnessed by Cybele.

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Excerpt from the book “Once Upon A Time-II: 150 Greek Mythology Stories” by Rajen Jani