Calydonian

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Definitions

1. Of or belonging to Calydon, an ancient city in Aetolia in central Greece, famous in Greek mythology
2. Relating to the ancient Greek region and city of Calydon, known especially for the legendary hunt of the Calydonian boar
3. Pertaining to Calydon, the historic Greek city that features prominently in classical mythology and ancient Greek literature

Etymology: Calydon was an ancient city in Aetolia, in western Greece, and its name is most famous from the Greek myth of the Calydonian Boar, a monstrous beast sent by Artemis to ravage the land after its king failed to honour her. Heroes gathered to hunt it, and the story gave the place a lasting place in Greek legend. The adjective is simply that place name with the English suffix "-ian," which attaches to proper nouns to mean "of or relating to" them, as in "Athenian" or "Victorian." So "Calydonian" means "of Calydon," and in practice it is used mainly in discussions of the city or, more often, of the hunt and the boar in the myth.