Meleager (disambiguation) facts for kids

Meleager is a famous hero from ancient Greek mythology. He was known for his bravery and his role in one of the most exciting stories: the hunt for the Calydonian Boar. His life was full of adventure, but it also had a tragic ending linked to a magical piece of wood.

Who Was Meleager?

Meleager was the son of King Oeneus of Calydon and Queen Althaea. Calydon was an ancient city in Greece. When Meleager was born, three goddesses called the Fates visited his mother. They told her that her son would live only as long as a certain log of wood in the fireplace remained unburned. Althaea quickly grabbed the log from the fire and kept it safe, hoping to protect her son.

The Calydonian Boar Hunt

The most famous story about Meleager is the Calydonian Boar hunt. His father, King Oeneus, had forgotten to honor the goddess Artemis during a harvest festival. Artemis was very angry and sent a giant, fierce boar to terrorize the lands of Calydon. This huge boar destroyed crops, killed livestock, and even attacked people.

Meleager decided to gather the greatest heroes from all over Greece to hunt the monster. Many famous figures joined him, including the brave huntress Atalanta. Meleager fell in love with Atalanta, and he insisted that she be allowed to join the hunt, even though some of the other hunters didn't want a woman to participate.

During the dangerous hunt, Atalanta was the first to wound the boar with her arrow. Meleager then delivered the final, fatal blow. He was so proud of Atalanta's bravery that he gave her the boar's hide as a prize.

Meleager's Tragic End

Giving the prize to Atalanta caused a big argument. Meleager's uncles, who were also his mother's brothers, felt that the prize should have gone to them, as they were men and close relatives. They tried to take the hide from Atalanta, which made Meleager furious. In a fit of rage, Meleager killed his two uncles.

When Meleager's mother, Althaea, heard that her brothers had been killed by her own son, she was overcome with grief and anger. In her despair, she remembered the prophecy of the Fates. She took out the special log she had kept safe for so many years and threw it into the fire. As the log burned, Meleager's life slowly faded away, and he died.

Meleager in Art

The story of Meleager has been a popular subject for artists for centuries. Many sculptures and paintings show him, often with the Calydonian Boar or with Atalanta.

Famous Sculptures

• Meleager (L'Antico sculpture): This is a beautiful bronze sculpture made during the Renaissance period. It was created by an artist known as L'Antico and is based on older Roman sculptures.
• Meleager of Skopas: This was a famous bronze sculpture created by the ancient Greek artist Skopas of Paros. Unfortunately, the original sculpture is now lost, but we know about it from descriptions and copies made by later artists.

Other People Named Meleager

The name Meleager was also used by other important figures in history.

Meleager, the General

One famous Meleager was a general who lived around 335 to 323 BC. He was an officer in the army of Alexander the Great, one of the most famous military commanders in history. This Meleager helped Alexander conquer many lands and build a huge empire.

Meleager, the King

Another Meleager was a king who ruled around 279 BC. He was part of the Ptolemaic dynasty, a family of kings who ruled Ancient Egypt after Alexander the Great's death. This Meleager was king for only a short time.