Meleager at The British Museum

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This statue, crafted in 400 BC by Skopas of Paros, portrays the legendary Greek hero Meleager. Meleager led a group of heroes on the Calydonian boar hunt. According to Homer's epic poem The Iliad, Meleager's father, King Oeneus of Calydon, had neglected to make an offering to Artemis, resulting in her sending a ferocious wild boar to devastate the countryside. Meleager assembled a team of brave warriors to track it down and ultimately killed it himself. The people of Calydon and their allies, the Curetes, clashed over the spoils, sparking a bitter conflict between them. In this war, Meleager fatally wounded his maternal uncle, and his mother Althaea cursed him in anger. When the Curetes laid siege to Calydon, Meleager refused to fight, putting his people at risk of defeat. However, he eventually joined the battle and turned the tide in their favor. The Iliad does not describe Meleager's demise but notes that it occurred before the Trojan War. His mother inadvertently caused his death by setting fire to a wooden beam whose lifespan matched his own. This artifact is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative founded by MyMiniFactory, which aims to create a comprehensive digital repository of 3D printable sculptures and artworks from around the world for public access. Scan The World is an open-source community project, and if you have interesting items to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can participate.