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Althaea (mythology)
Althaea was the daughter of Eurythemis and Thestius, the Aetolian king, and wife to Oeneus, king of Calydon. As published in the Myth Index, Leda, Hyperrmnestra, Iphicius, and Euippus were siblings to Althaea. She was mother of five sons (Toxeus, Thyreus, Clymenus, and Meleager) and two daughters (Gorge and Deïaneira). When her son, Meleager, at the age of seven days old was visited by the Fates, he was foretold to expire when the family brand was placed in coals. In response and in fear of her son’s death, Althaea hid the brand in a secluded chest. She returned later in life to recover the brand in the intention of murdering her own son then committing suicide (Frazer 1.8.2, “Althaea”).

The battle
Meleager matured to a heroic man. He was father to Polydora and husband to Cleopatra. Meleager desired to bear a child with Schoeneus’s daughter Atalanta. According to the Appollodorus Index, dispute arose between Oeneus and the goddess Artemis. This caused the angry goddess to release a wild boar to Calydon to devour the fields (“Meleager”). This occurrence resulted in war where sons of Thestius, Meleager, Atalanta, and many other men involved themselves (Frazer 1.8.2).

Murder
As also stated in the Appollodorus Index, the winner of the battle was to be rewarded with the skin of the boar. When Meleager rose to his ultimate heroism, he was presented with the skin. In a gentleman manner, and in hopes of winning over the affection of Atalanta, he passed on the reward to her. The sons of Thestius disagreed. They thought that women should not receive such a possession. The brothers took the skin from Atalanta, causing rage in Meleager. A dispute broke out, resulting in Meleager murdering his uncles. He then returned the skin to Atalanta (Frazer 1.8.2).

Suicide
Althaea heard of the death of her brothers and that the crime was committed by her own son. In grief, Althaea fetched the brand. She kindled the brand, instantly killing Meleager. After losing her brothers and murdering her own son, Althaea hung herself. From the loss of her husband, Cleopatra also felt she could not live anymore and ended her own life (Frazer 1.8.2).

Alternate death
An alternate death of Meleager and Althaea is questionable. After Meleager killed his uncles, he received information of his mother cursing him with death. This caused him to stay at war and he never returned home. From this derived the conclusion that Meleager died in fight while others believe Althaea’s actions caused him to expire (“Meleager”). Althaea is also said to have died differently. Rather than hanging herself, she may have killed herself with a dagger (“Althaea”). After Meleager’s death, his sister’s cried unstoppably. Artemis changed them into guinea-hens, which are African birds. After the transformation, the sisters were moved to the island of Leros (“Meleager”).