ALTHAEA

[Greek heroic] The wife of Oeneus and mother of Meleager. When her child was born, the three Moirae prophesied that Meleager would live only so long as a brand burning upon the hearth remained unconsumed. Althaea immediately snatched the brand from the fire and kept it in a safe place. When Meleager killed her two brothers in a fight, Althaea removed the half-consumed brand from its hiding place and cast it upon the fire.