Althaea- Greek FigureMortal"Queen of Calydon"

The Firebrand

The three Moirai appeared in Althaea's chamber when Meleager was born. Clotho and Lachesis granted the infant noble qualities, but Atropos pointed to a log burning on the hearth: the boy would live only as long as it remained unconsumed. Althaea snatched the brand from the fire and locked it in a chest. Meleager grew up knowing nothing of what his life depended on.

The Calydonian Catastrophe

Artemis sent a monstrous boar to ravage the lands of Althaea's husband Oeneus after he neglected her sacrifice. Meleager assembled a company of heroes to hunt the beast. They killed it, but Meleager awarded the hide to the huntress Atalanta. Althaea's brothers considered this an insult and seized the pelt. Meleager killed them.

The Impossible Choice

Althaea retrieved the firebrand from its chest. In Ovid's telling, she stood before the hearth and wavered, now lifting the brand toward the flames, now pulling it back. At last, grief for her brothers won. She cursed Meleager and thrust the wood into the fire.

Far from Calydon, Meleager was consumed by an agonizing heat that ate him from within. He died as the last ember turned to ash. Althaea hanged herself.