In Greek mythology, Atalanta was a heroic female figure whose name meant “equal in weight” — in other words, she was as capable as any man.
In Neil Mach’s debut novel, The Last Music Bearer, the primary female protagonist is named Atalanta.
Neil Mach's character shares many of the attributes, virtues, and qualities of the 'Classical' figure of Atalanta.
According to Greek myth, Atalanta was left to die on Mount Parthenion, as an infant, because her father wanted a son.
Atalanta was found and nursed by a she-bear, a symbol of the Goddess 'of the hunt' Artemis, after the bear’s own cubs were killed by hunters.
As such, Atalanta emulated Artemis, donning a knee-length sleeveless tunic and residing in the wild.
Ovid states that, before her adventures, Atalanta sought guidance from an oracle who predicted that marriage would lead to her downfall. Consequently, Atalanta chose to live by herself in the wilderness.
Following the calamitous Calydonian boar hunt, Atalanta’s father found her and embraced her as his own.
Atalanta was as capable as any man, and threw a javelin that slayed a fearsome monster...
Atalanta, the modern-day football club based in Bergamo, Italy, derived its name from the heroine. The club features her face on their crest.
Fatima Whitbread, the Olympic javelin medallist, found motivation in the story of Atalanta, who was said to be ‘unbeatable in competition’ (except through cheating), who was as capable as any man, and who threw a javelin that slayed a fearsome monster.
The English fantologist Neil Mach is highly regarded in the field of fantasy studies and has authored So You Want to Write Fantasy? His book is a fascinating manual that delves into fantasy perspectives.
