Parthenopaeüs was the son of Melanion and Atalanta (although his father could also have been Meleager, Ares or Talaüs). His name means 'virgin son', either for Atalanta's long-lasting virginity, or because she abandoned him on Mount Parthenium, or because she abandoned him to conceal the fact that she had lost her virginity. The elements of the name are parthenon, 'maid', 'virgin' and pais, 'child', 'son'.
