ATALAN′TA was daughter of Cæneus. The oracle told her that marriage
would be fatal to her, but, being very beautiful, she had many suitors.
She was a very swift runner, and, to get rid of her admirers, she
promised to marry any one of them who should outstrip her in a race,
but that all who were defeated should be slain. Hippomenes, however,
with the aid of Venus, was successful. That goddess gave him three
golden apples, one of which he dropped whenever Atalanta caught up to
him in the race. She stopped to pick them up, and he was victorious and
married her. They were both afterwards turned into lions by Cybele, for
profaning her temple.
A′TE. The goddess of revenge, also called the goddess of discord and
all evil. She was banished from heaven by her father Jupiter.
“With Ate by his side come hot from hell.”