A Golden Apple of Aphrodite
Title
A Golden Apple of Aphrodite
Description
This golden apple is one of three that the hero Melanion received from the goddess Aphrodite in answer to his prayers.
Melanion wished to earn the hand of the beautiful huntress Atalanta in marriage. However, Atalanta was reluctant to marry due to a prophecy that marriage would be her downfall. In the end Atalanta agreed to marry, but under the condition that her suitor was obligated to beat her in a footrace. Competitors who failed to beat her would be put to death. As Atalanta could run extremely fast, every other of her many suitors died.
Melanion knew that Atalanta could not be defeated in a fair race so he prayed to Aphrodite for assistance. In reply she gave him the three golden apples and told him to drop them one at a time to distract Atalanta. Sure enough, she quit running long enough to retrieve each golden apple. It took all three apples and all of his speed, but Melanion finally succeeded, winning the race and Atalanta's hand.
Melanion wished to earn the hand of the beautiful huntress Atalanta in marriage. However, Atalanta was reluctant to marry due to a prophecy that marriage would be her downfall. In the end Atalanta agreed to marry, but under the condition that her suitor was obligated to beat her in a footrace. Competitors who failed to beat her would be put to death. As Atalanta could run extremely fast, every other of her many suitors died.
Melanion knew that Atalanta could not be defeated in a fair race so he prayed to Aphrodite for assistance. In reply she gave him the three golden apples and told him to drop them one at a time to distract Atalanta. Sure enough, she quit running long enough to retrieve each golden apple. It took all three apples and all of his speed, but Melanion finally succeeded, winning the race and Atalanta's hand.
Creator
Aphrodite
Source
Greek mythology
Contributor
Ashley Rieger
Format
Ancestral
Type
Myth
Files
Citation
Aphrodite, “A Golden Apple of Aphrodite,” The Museum of Fictional Literary Artifacts, accessed April 25, 2024, https://mfla.omeka.net/items/show/94.