Atalanta

American  

[at-l-an-tuh] / ˌæt lˈæn tə /

Also Atalante

noun

1. Classical Mythology. a virgin huntress who promised to marry the man who could win a footrace against her but lost to Hippomenes when she stopped to retrieve three golden apples of Aphrodite that he dropped in her path.

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Atalanta British  

/ ˌætəˈlæntə /

noun

1. Greek myth a maiden who agreed to marry any man who could defeat her in a running race. She lost to Hippomenes when she paused to pick up three golden apples that he had deliberately dropped

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Etymology

Origin of Atalanta

Latin, from Greek Atalántē

Example Sentences

In the Champions League last 16, Bayern faced an Atalanta side who opted to man-mark across the pitch.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

The difference between their approach and the one that failed Atalanta is an ability to switch seamlessly between a man-marking set-up and a zonal approach.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

Bayern go into the second leg of their last-16 tie with Atalanta in the Champions League on Wednesday holding a 6-1 advantage.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

Dortmund led 2-0 from the first leg but were on the back foot from the opening whistle, with Atalanta neutralising the visitors' advantage by half-time thanks to goals from Gianluca Scamacca and Davide Zappacosta.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

They are always represented as living just before the Trojan War, at the same time as Theseus and Jason and Atalanta.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton