LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Atalanta
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Atalanta (Greek:Αταλάντη, meaning "balanced") is a character from ancient Greek mythology. Her father, Schoeneus or Iasius (Iasus, Iasion), wanted a son so badly that when Atalanta was born, he left her in the middle of the woods to die. Artemis sent a "she-bear" to suckle her and eventually a group of hunters raised her.
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According to ancient myths and legends set down by the Roman poet Ovid, Atalanta was a famous athlete and hunter who regularly challenged her suitors to footraces in which the loser was punished by death. The unbeaten Atalanta captivated Hippomenes. Venus was determined to help him by giving him three golden apples, which he dropped as he raced Atalanta, who lost time by stopping to pick up each treasure. With this trick, Hippomenes won the race and his bride.
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Among these noble men came ... the fair maiden Atalanta who shortly before had traveled with the Argonauts in their successful voyage to bring back to Greece the Golden Fleece. She had already established her reputation as a fighter and hunter and was widely respected.
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Atalanta hated men and never wanted to get married even though her father wanted her too. She ... came up with a plan that she would marry any man that could outrun her, which no man could. Many men tried and all failed miserably. One day Melanion, another guy who had the hots for Atalanta, had a visit by Aphrodite who had a plan to beat Atalanta. Aphrodite gave Melanion three golden apples that nobody could resist. The race began, and Atalanta took off to a giant lead.
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The novel, which is a new version of the old mythological story about the hunterwoman Atalanta starts at a mountainside in Arcadia. In the cover of darkness the newborn Atalanta was set out to be killed by lions and wolves by her father, who was disappointed in getting another daughter. But the godess Artemis discovers this, takes the little girl under her wings adbring her to the godpalace on the Olymp. With the help from the goddesses Hera and Athena the baby is given not only strenght like no one ever has seen before, but ... a goddesslike look. Thereafter the girl is being left to a huntingtribe, where Atalanta is raised.
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On one such lonely hunt Atalanta was confronted by two malicious centaurs. These half-human, half-horse beasts laughed at the sight of the youth who was alone in the forest. They thought they would have some cruel fun with her and came barreling down the mountainside, uttering blood-curdling words and with their hooves thundering. But Atlanta did not flee. Instead she calmly fitted a bronze-tipped arrow to her bow and shot it. While the first arrow was still in the air she quickly aimed and fired a second one. In an instant the two centaurs came tumbling down with stones clattering and dust flying in the air.
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Atalanta