380 The European Sky-god.
had come. Even on this wise gave the Libyan a bride- groom to his daughter, and joined the twain. At the line he set the damsel, having arrayed her splendidly, to be the goal and prize, and proclaimed in the midst that he should lead her thence to be his bride who, dashing to the front, should first touch the robes she wore. Thereon Alexi- damos, when that he had sped through the swift course, took by her hand the noble maiden, and led her through the troops of Nomad horsemen. Many the leaves and wreaths they showered on him ; yea and of former days many plumes of victories had he won." Similarly tradi- tion said " that Icarius set the wooers of Penelope to run a race." ^^■' Odysseus won it, and so gained his bride. The Boeotian Atalanta, daughter of Schoeneus, was awarded by her father to the man who should outstrip her in a foot- race. The wooer was to run without weapons ; Atalanta would follow with a spear, and if she caught him before the goal would slay him and fix his head on the racecourse. When she had vanquished and slain many suitors, she was at last outrun by Hippomenes, who dropped the famous golden apples in her path and so delayed her.^^
How tales of this type are related to tales that represent the king as himself challenging all comers, appears from the legend of Sithon.^^ This king of the Thracian Odo- manti was the son of Poseidon (or Ares ^^). When his daughter Pallene was wooed by many from far and wide, he bade each suitor fight him for the girl, on condition that if he were unsuccessful he should be put to death, but if successful he should receive not only his bride but the kingdom also. On these terms he defeated and put to death Merops, king of Anthemus, Periphetes, king of
^ Paus., 3. 12. I
® Hyg. fab., 185, cp. Apollod., 3. 9. 2. See further Escher in Pauly- Wissowa, ii. 1890 ff.
" Conon narr., 10, Parthen. 7iarr. am., 6. ® Tzetz. in Lye. Alex., 583, 1 161.
