Hippomenes

Hippomenes is a figure from Greek mythology.

He was the son of Megareus and Merope, or a son of Ares. He is best known from the legend of Atalanta, the hunting virgin who was often compared to Artemis himself. She let every suitor who deny their coveted, a race against yourself. Won the suitors, so she took him for her husband, but he lost, they killed him. Hippomenes, the Atalante had never seen, but there was among the spectators of the race, was the eagerness of the first candidate does not understand, but when he saw Atalanta, he was impressed by her beauty.

He immediately took to her and decided in the hope that the Gods will protect him, even participate in the competition. When he announced this Atalante, she wanted to dissuade him from this project, as they have a fine young man looked at him, it was not worth dying so. However, he could not change his mind, and so the race was imminent. Hippomenes prayed to the goddess of love Aphrodite, that they could win it, and this prayer was also answered: The goddess brought three golden apples and taught him to use it.

The race began, and the two rivals remained on par. Slowly Hippomenes ' forces were weaker, appeared as Aphrodite and told him that he should drop one of the apples. He did as he was told and confused Atalante so much that she picked up the apple and thus lost time. He repeated this twice more and then won the competition. Atalanta, who was herself lucky to marry such a worthy young man, like went with him into the covenant of marriage.