Meleager

Family: Calydon · Role: hero · First appears: Fable 73

At Calydon in Fable 73, Meleager, son of Œneus, leads the boar hunt, kills the beast and gives its head to Atalanta as the victory prize. He has fallen for her, and when Plexippus and Toxeus take the prize, he kills both of his uncles. He also gives Atalanta the boar’s skin and head, while Ancæus’s wounds are described as a happy lot.

Then Althæa throws the fatal billet into the flames, undoing the protection of Meleager’s life; when it is consumed, he dies in great torment. Fable 73 names Cleopatra, also called Alcyone, as his wife, and says he is the father of Parthenopæus by Eurymede. His sisters Eurymede and Melanippe are changed into birds. In Fable 78, Deïanira addresses him as her brother.

Relationship record

Life events

• Meleager kills the boar and presents its head to Atalanta as the victory prize.(Fable73 · 📍 Calydon)
  • With: Atalanta
  • “His son Meleager leads the chase, and, having killed the monster, presents its head to his mistress, Atalanta”
• Plexippus and Toxeus seize Atalanta’s prize, so Meleager kills both uncles.(Fable73 · 📍 Calydon)
  • With: Atalanta Plexippus Toxeus
  • “And {then} from her they take the present, {and} from him the right {of disposing} of the present. The warlike[67] {prince} did not brook it, and, indignant with swelling rage, he said, ‘Learn, ye spoilers of the honour that belongs to another, how much deeds differ from threats;’ and, with his cruel sword, he pierced the breast of Plexippus, dreading no such thing. Nor suffered he Toxeus”
• Althæa throws the fatal billet into the flames, undoing the protection of Meleager’s life.(Fable73)
  • With: Althæa
  • “and turning herself away, with trembling right hand she threw the fatal brand into the midst of the flames.”
• Meleager dies in torment when the enchanted billet is completely consumed.(Fable73 · 📍 Calydon)
  • “As soon as it is consumed, Meleager expires in the greatest torments.”

Fable 73

• parent: Œneus “His son Meleager leads the chase”
• courtship with Atalanta “Her the Calydonian hero both beheld, and at the same moment sighed for her, against the will of the God”
• enemies with Plexippus “with his cruel sword, he pierced the breast of Plexippus”
• enemies with Toxeus “Nor suffered he Toxeus, who was doubtful what to do, and both wishful to avenge his brother, and fearing his brother’s fate”
• parent: Althæa “the mother snatched the flaming brand from the fire”
• child: Parthenopæus “She was the mother of Parthenopæus, by Meleager”
• married with Cleopatra “the original name of the wife of Meleager was Cleopatra”
• married with Alcyone “she was called Alcyone”
• with Ancæus (Meleager compares his own death favorably with Ancæus's wounds.) “and says that the wounds of Ancæus were a happy lot”
• with Plexippus (interaction) “with his cruel sword, he pierced the breast of Plexippus”
• with Toxeus (interaction) “Nor suffered he Toxeus, who was doubtful what to do”
• siblings with Eurymede “The two sisters of Meleager who were changed into birds were Eurymede and Melanippe.”
• siblings with Melanippe “The two sisters of Meleager who were changed into birds were Eurymede and Melanippe.”
• with Atalanta (interaction) “Immediately he gives her the skin as the spoil, thick with the stiffening bristles, and the head remarkable for the huge tusks.”

Fable 78

• siblings with Deïanira “What if, O Meleager, remembering that I am thy sister, I resolve on a desperate deed”

⭐ Constellation map → · 📖 Read the original → · 🗂 Character index → · 🕰 Chronicle → · 📍 Places →

Extracted from the original text of The Metamorphoses of Ovid. Made with Rho MD.