Atalanta (Greek: Αταλάντη, English translation: "balance") is a character from ancient Greek mythology. Her father, Schoeneus or Iasius (Iasus, Iasion), wanted a son so badly that when Atalanta was born, he left her in the middle of the forest in the mountain tops to die. Artemis sent a "she-bear" to suckle her and eventually a hunter raised her.