Atalanta
3 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Atalanta. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
in Greek legend, a maiden of Arcadia. She had been warned by an oracle not to marry. She therefore avoided the society of men and gave herself to the pleasures of the chase. She was very beautiful, however, and had many suitors, upon whom she imposed the following conditions: "I will be the prize of him who shall conquer me in the race; but death shall be the penalty of all who try and fail." Many youths attempted the race, but Atlanta outran them all until Hippomenes appeared. He was a favorite of Venus, whose aid he invoked in order to win the race. The goddess gave him three golden apples, instructing him to throw them, one at a time, before Atalanta as she ran. She was attracted by the apples, paused, turned aside, and was thus overtaken by Hippomenes. The two were wedded and were very happy; but Venus, vexed because Hippomenes seemed ungrateful, caused the pair to be transformed into lions, destined henceforth to draw the chariot of Cybele. Moore, in describing alpine scenery, makes an allusion to this story: Even here, in this region of wonders, I find That light-footed Fancy leaves Truth far behind, Or at least, like Hippomenes, turns her astray By the golden illusions he fings in her way. Atlanta is the subject of a poem by the Roman Ovid. William Morris has also made use of the subject in his poem Atalanta's Race in the Earthly Paradise. See Ovid ; Cybele 2026 Editor's Note: Atalanta's race — lost when she stopped to pick up golden apples thrown to distract her — endures as a parable of the swift undone by temptation. A huntress who could outrun any man, she is now often celebrated as an early heroine of female athletic prowess, and lends her name to the Italian football club of Bergamo. (Ed: BR 2026-07-08)
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
the daughter of Jason and Clymene, celebrated for her skill in archery, was a native of Arcadia. She slew the Centaurs, Rhœcus and Hylæus; sailed to Colchis with the Argonauts, and was afterward present at the chase of the Calydonian boar, which she was the first to wound. Another Atalanta, daughter of Schœneus, King of Scyros, was renowned for her beauty, and swiftness in running. She required each of her lovers to run a race with her. Her admirer was to run before, unarmed, while she followed him with a dart. If she could not overtake him, she was his own; but if he were outrun, he was doomed to death, his head to be set up at the goal. Many had fallen victims in the attempt, when Hippomenes, the son of Mægareus, by the aid of Venus, overcame her. The goddess gave him three golden apples, which he threw behind him, one after the other, as he ran. Atalanta stopped to pick them up, and Hippomenes reached the goal before her. Her former reserve now gave place to such ungovernable passion that the chaste Ceres, becoming offended, changed both the parties into lions, and compelled them from that time to draw her chariot.
1000 Classical Characters (1900)
Daughter of Schoeneus, king of Scyros. According to some she was the daughter of Jasus, or Jasius, and Clymene, but others say that Menalion was her father. She determined to live in celibacy, but her beauty gained her many admirers, and to free herself from their importunities she proposed to run a race with them. As she was almost invincible in running, her suitors, who entered the lists against her, were defeated, till Hippomenes, the son of Macareus, proposed himself as an admirer. Venus gave him three golden apples from the garden of the Hesperides , and with these concealed about him he entered the lists to race against Atalanta. As the race proceeded he dropped the apples, which she stopped to pick up, thus enabling Hippomenes to arrive first at the goal, and obtain her in marriage.