The ancient Greeks had a pantheon of gods and goddesses, and to displease even one of them would surely bring their wrath upon the devotee. Greek mythology abounds in such tales of worship and the tragic consequences of inviting the irk of a deity. The famed myth of the Calydonian Boar Hunt is the first hunting party that saw the participation of many of the valiant Greek heroes and a single heroine of that time. Themed around bravery, jealousy, love, deceit, and revenge, this tale depicts very interesting twists and turns that have made it so popular in modern-day art and literature.
THE CALYDONIAN HUNTERS
The alphabetical list of the Calydonian Hunters who took part in the famous mythological hunt.
Acastus: the son of Pelias, King of Iolcus, and Anaxibia. He was part of the Argonauts, a band of Greek heroes.
Admetus: the King of Pherae in Thessaly. He was part of the Argonauts, a band of Greek heroes.
Amphiaraus: the son of Oracles and Hypermnestra, also the King of Argos.
Alcon: the son of Hippocoon, was killed by Heracles.
Alcon: a Thracian, the son of Ares.
Ancaeus: the son of Lycurgus, was killed by the Calydonian Boar.
Asclepius: God of Medicine and Healing.
Atalanta: virgin huntress, the daughter of Iasus, an Arcadian princess who was abandoned in the jungle by her father and raised by a bear. She grew up to be a skilled huntress and devotee of Goddess Artemis, she is the only lady to participate in the famed boar hunt among the male heroes, and the first one to deliver the fatal wound to the boar. It is said that Meleager was attracted to her, and fell in love with her bravery skills during the hunt. She defied the male norms of the society during her time and remains an example of valor and courage.
Caeneus: originally a woman transformed into a man by God Poseidon, and was also a Lapith hero.
Castor: twin brother of Pollux, son of Leda and Tyndareus, the King of Sparta.
Cepheus: the son of Aleus and Neaera, and also the King of Tegea in Arcadia.
Cometes: son of Thestius, he claimed to first hit the boar so he deserved the kill-prize to which a fight broke out between Curetes―the sons of Thestius―and the Calydonians―Meleager.
Cteatus: one of the so-called Molionides, and sons of Molione.
Deucalion: the son of Prometheus.
Dryas: a leader of the Lapiths against the Centaurs.
Echion: the son of Hermes and Antianira, and part of the Argonauts, a band of Greek heroes.
Enaesimus: the son of Hippocoon, was killed by the Calydonian Boar.
Epochus: the son of Lycurgus.
Euphemus: the son of Poseidon, part of the Argonauts, a band of Greek heroes.
Eurypylus: one of the sons of Thestius, was killed by Meleager during the disputed fight regarding the kill-prize.
Eurytion: the King of Phthia, and part of the Argonauts, a band of Greek heroes.
Eurytus: one of the so-called Molionides, and sons of Molione.
Eurytus: the son of Hermes and Antianira, and part of the Argonauts, a band of Greek heroes.
Evippus: one of the sons of Thestius, was killed by Meleager during the disputed fight regarding the kill-prize.
Hippasus: the son of Eurytus.
Hippalmus: who survived the attack by the Calydonian Boar.
Hippothous: the son of Cercyon.
Hylaeus: was killed by the Calydonian Boar.
Idas: the son of Aphareus and Arene.
Iolaus: the Theban divine hero, son of Iphicles and Automedusa, and Heracles's nephew.
Iphicles: the son of Amphitryon and Alcmene, and half-brother of Heracles.
Iphiclus: one of the sons of Thestius, was killed by Meleager during the disputed fight regarding the kill-prize.
Ischepolis: the son of Alcathous.
Jason: the son of Aeson, the rightful king of Iolcos, and the leader of the Argonauts in their quest for the Golden Fleece.
Laertes: the son of Arcesius and Chalcomedusa.
Lelex: King of Laconia and a demigod.
Leucippus: the son of Hippocoon.
Lynceus: part of the Argonauts, a band of Greek heroes.
Meleager: the Calydon hero and leader of the boar hunt, and also part of the Argonauts, a band of Greek heroes. He was the son of Althaea and King Oeneus, he is said to have fallen for Atlanta's hunter skills and given her the kill-prize, which he rightly deserved.
Mopsus: famous Greek seer.
Nestor: the son of Neleus, the King of Pylos and Chloris.
Panopeus: a Phocian, the son of Phocus.
Pelagon: he survived an attack by the Calydonian Boar.
Peleus: the son of Aeacus, king of the island of Aegina.
Phoenix: King of the Dolopians.
Phyleus: one of the Achaean leaders against Troy.
Pirithous: King of the Lapiths in Thessaly.
Plexippus: one of the sons of Thestius, was killed by Meleager during the disputed fight regarding the kill-prize.
Polydeuces: twin brother of Castor.
Prothous: one of the sons of Thestius.
Telamon: the son of Actaeus and Glauce, also part of the Argonauts, a band of Greek heroes.
Theseus: King of Athens.
Toxeus: one of the sons of Thestius, was killed by Meleager during the disputed fight regarding the kill-prize.
The mythological story depicts the epic theme of combat between man and animal and also touches the topic of gender bias that society was subjected to during the ancient times.