needs to become vulnerable, to learn to love and care deeply about
another person. If this happens, it may do so within a relation-
ship—usually with a man who loves her, sometimes with another
woman, or by having a child.
Often this advance can occur only after an Artemis woman has
“run down,” after she has aimed for a series of targets and achieved
them or failed, after the thrill of the hunt, the race, or the pursuit has
grown stale. A man who loves her may need to wait until then, and
until he can get some aid from Aphrodite.
THE ATALANTA MYTH: A METAPHOR FOR
PSYCHOLOGICAL GROWTH
Atalanta was a heroine whose courage and capabilities as a hunter
and runner were equal to any man’s.^11 She had been exposed on a
mountaintop soon after her birth, was found and nurtured by a bear,
and grew to be a beautiful woman. A hunter named Meleager be-
came her lover and companion. The twinlike pair became well-
known hunters, famous throughout Greece, especially for their part
in the Calydon Boar hunt. Meleager died in her arms shortly there-
after. Atalanta then left the mountain country they had roamed to-
gether, to confront her father and be recognized as heir to his throne.
Now many suitors came to win her hand, and she spurned them
all. When a clamor arose for her to choose among them, she said
that she would marry the man who could beat her at a footrace. If
he won, she would marry him; if he lost, he would forfeit his life.
Race after race was run, with fleet-footed Atalanta always in the
lead.
Finally, unathletic Hippomenes, who truly loved her, decided to
enter the race even through it would probably cost him his life. The
night before the race he prayed to Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, for
help. She heard his plea and gave him three golden apples to use in
the race.
Apple 1: Awareness of Time Passing. Early in the race, Hippomenes
threw the first golden apple in Atalanta’s path. She was drawn to
its shining beauty and slowed down to pick it
Goddesses in Everywoman