ABSTRACT
A prince of Calydon, the son of Oeneus and Althaea, or of Ares and Althaea. He was said to have taken part in the expedition of the Argo, on which his uncle or half-brother Laocoon looked after him. He returned, having according to one version killed Aeetes, and married Cleopatra, daughter of Idas. A little later, Artemis sent a great wild boar to ravage the land of Calydon, because Oeneus had failed to sacrifice to her. Meleager invited all the heroes of Greece to come to hunt the boar-compelling them to remain with him in the hunt because they had accepted his hospitality-and Oeneus collected many helpers offering the boar’s skin to whoever should kill it. After nine days’ feasting the hunt began. The Arcadian Ancaeus and a number of others were killed by the beast. Then Atalanta, the virgin huntress, drew first blood with an arrow, and Amphiaraus scored a hit also. But it was Meleager who killed the boar and won the right to the spoils.
