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[529] Oineus the Aitolian, king of Kalydon, married Althaia, daughter of Thestios, king of the Kuretes. The two peoples combined to slay the wild boar that ravaged Kalydon, but fell out over the division of the spoils, which Meleager wished to assign as “ἀριστεῖα” to Atalanta; but the sons of Thestios, indignant, had taken it from her, for which Meleager slew them, and was therefore cursed by his mother Althaia, their sister. It will be seen that the story as given in the text is only very partially told, although 533-49 and 557-64 (or rather 572) are inserted, to the damage of the connexion, to explain the circumstances out of which the quarrel had arisen. In any case the story must be read continuously thus: 529-32, 55056, 573-99. It will be observed that the fire-brand with which Meleager's life was bound up is inconsistent with the present legend (see on 570 below); nor is Atalanta mentioned.

The Iliad, edited, with apparatus criticus, prolegomena, notes, and appendices. Walter Leaf. London. Macmillan. 1900.

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