Meleager
Mortal man
Meleager (; Ancient Greek: Μελέαγρος, romanized: Meléagros) was a hero in Greek mythology, venerated in his temenos at Calydon in Aetolia. He was famed as the host of the Calydonian boar hunt in the epic tradition that was reworked by Homer, and was also mentioned as one of the Argonauts.
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Mentions in the Iliad
A. T. Murray, Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, 1924 · Homer, Iliad with an English Translation · CC BY-SA 3.0 US
“and held the mainland and dwelt on the shores over against the isles. Of these was Odysseus captain, the peer of Zeus in counsel. And with him there followed twelve ships with vermilion prows. And the Aetolians were led by Thoas, Andraemon's son, even they that dwelt in Pleuron and Olenus and Pylene and Chalcis, hard by the sea, and rocky Calydon. For the sons of great-hearted Oeneus were no more, neither did he himself still live, and fair-haired Meleager was dead, to whom had commands been given that he should bear full sway among the Aetolians. And with Thoas there followed forty black ships.”
“that wrought much evil, wasting the orchard land of Oeneus; many a tall tree did he uproot and cast upon the ground, aye, root and apple blossom therewith. But the boar did Meleager, son of Oeneus, slay, when he had gathered out of many cities huntsmen”
“Now so long as Meleager, dear to Ares, warred, so long went it ill with the Curetes, nor might they abide without their wall, for all they were very many. But when wrath entered into Meleager, wrath that maketh the heart to swell in the breasts also of others, even though they be wise,”
“of the Aetolians made prayer, sending to him the best of the priests of the gods, that he should come forth and succour them, and they promised him a mighty gift; they bade him, where the plain of lovely Calydon was fattest, there choose a fair tract of fifty acres, the half of it vineland,”
“Then verily his fair-girdled wife besought Meleager with wailing, and told him all the woes that come on men whose city is taken; the men are slain and the city is wasted by fire, and their children and low-girdled women are led captive of strangers.”
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Connections
Father · Sources
and held the mainland and dwelt on the shores over against the isles. Of these was Odysseus captain, the peer of Zeus in counsel. And with him there followed twelve ships with vermilion prows. And the Aetolians were led by Thoas, Andraemon's son, even they that dwelt in Pleuron and Olenus and Pylene and Chalcis, hard by the sea, and rocky Calydon. For the sons of great-hearted Oeneus were no more, neither did he himself still live, and fair-haired Meleager was dead, to whom had commands been given that he should bear full sway among the Aetolians. And with Thoas there followed forty black ships.
that wrought much evil, wasting the orchard land of Oeneus; many a tall tree did he uproot and cast upon the ground, aye, root and apple blossom therewith. But the boar did Meleager, son of Oeneus, slay, when he had gathered out of many cities huntsmen
Il. 2.641–642 · Il. 9.543
Mother · Sources
he then, wroth at heart against his dear mother Althaea, abode beside his wedded wife, the fair Cleopatra, daughter of Marpessa of the fair ankles, child of Evenus, and of Idas that was mightiest of men that were then upon the face of earth; who also took his bow to face the king
and the half clear plough-land, to be cut from out the plain. And earnestly the old horseman Oeneus besought him, standing upon the threshold of his high-roofed chamber, and shaking the jointed doors, in prayer to his son, and earnestly too did his sisters and his honoured mother beseech him
Il. 9.555 · Il. 9.584
Brother · Sources
Братство или сестринство выведено из общего родителя: Иней. Матери и отцы, не указанные в источнике, не предполагаются. Квалификация братства/сестринства: Илиада: Общий родитель подтверждён; роль отца или матери не установлена. Общие родители: Иней (Ойней), царь Калидона.
and held the mainland and dwelt on the shores over against the isles. Of these was Odysseus captain, the peer of Zeus in counsel. And with him there followed twelve ships with vermilion prows. And the Aetolians were led by Thoas, Andraemon's son, even they that dwelt in Pleuron and Olenus and Pylene and Chalcis, hard by the sea, and rocky Calydon. For the sons of great-hearted Oeneus were no more, neither did he himself still live, and fair-haired Meleager was dead, to whom had commands been given that he should bear full sway among the Aetolians. And with Thoas there followed forty black ships.
and of a ready heart I bid thee fight with the Trojans, yet either hath weariness born of thy many onsets entered into thy limbs, or haply spiritless terror possesseth thee. Then art thou no offspring of Tydeus, the wise-hearted son of Oeneus. Then in answer to her spake mighty Diomedes:
that wrought much evil, wasting the orchard land of Oeneus; many a tall tree did he uproot and cast upon the ground, aye, root and apple blossom therewith. But the boar did Meleager, son of Oeneus, slay, when he had gathered out of many cities huntsmen
Il. 2.641–642 · Il. 5.813 · Il. 9.543 · Il. 14.118
Wife · Sources
he then, wroth at heart against his dear mother Althaea, abode beside his wedded wife, the fair Cleopatra, daughter of Marpessa of the fair ankles, child of Evenus, and of Idas that was mightiest of men that were then upon the face of earth; who also took his bow to face the king
Then verily his fair-girdled wife besought Meleager with wailing, and told him all the woes that come on men whose city is taken; the men are slain and the city is wasted by fire, and their children and low-girdled women are led captive of strangers.
Il. 9.556 · Il. 9.590
Opponent · Sources
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In art
Peter Paul Rubens. The Calydonian boar hunt. Cook collection. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q110551515
Peter Paul Rubens. The Calydonian boar hunt. Cook collection. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q110551515
Peter Paul Rubens. The Hunting of the Calydonian Boar. Ashmolean Museum. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111518157
Peter Paul Rubens. The Hunting of the Calydonian Boar. Ashmolean Museum. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111518157
Jacob van Schuppen. Meleager Kills Calydon Boar. Musée Fabre. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q117307265
Jacob van Schuppen. Meleager Kills Calydon Boar. Musée Fabre. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q117307265
François Boucher. Death of Meleager. Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q20880349
François Boucher. Death of Meleager. Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q20880349
Charles Le Brun. Le Brun chasse de Méléagre Louvre. Department of Paintings of the Louvre. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q29847869
Charles Le Brun. Le Brun chasse de Méléagre Louvre. Department of Paintings of the Louvre. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q29847869
Charles Le Brun. Le Brun mort de Méléagre Louvre. Department of Paintings of the Louvre. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q29847912
Charles Le Brun. Le Brun mort de Méléagre Louvre. Department of Paintings of the Louvre. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q29847912
Hans Bol. Melager hands over the head of the Calydonian boar to Atalanta. Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q50323472
Hans Bol. Melager hands over the head of the Calydonian boar to Atalanta. Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q50323472
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Sources and verification
The character is matched to the catalogue.
- Wikipedia · Meleager · CC BY-SA 4.0
Excerpt; remaining sentences omitted.
Reference material remains distinct from the poem’s assertions. Characters who share a name retain separate pages.



