Eileithyia

Eileithyia (Greek Εἰλείθυια, even Ilithyia, Mycenaean 𐀁 𐀩 𐀄 𐀴 𐀊 e- re -u- ti -ja, Doric Ἐλευθ ( υ ) ία Eleuth (y) ia " the [ to help] Coming ", often in the plural appearing as Eileithyiai ) was in Greek mythology, the goddess of childbirth.

Myth

Eileithyia is the daughter of Zeus and Hera, her siblings were Hebe and Ares. According to Homer, were the Eileithyiai daughters of Hera. The birthplace of Eileithyia was in Crete in the cave of Amnissos.

When Alcmene was pregnant by Zeus, Eileithyia was committed by Zeus ' wife Hera to prevent childbirth. Burning jealousy was the reason. She hated the infant Heracles namely from the beginning, even later, when he was the classic hero. Eileithya sat in front of Alcmene chamber and crossed fingers, arms, and legs too. This birth was not possible and Alcmene suffered for seven days in agony, because she could not come down. Your maid Galanthis but noticed something and called out: "The child is there, it 's a boy! " Eileithyia jumped in horror to see how this could have happened, broke it its charm and made the birth of Heracles finally possible. As punishment for the betrayal of the goddess Galanthis was transformed into a weasel or ichneumon.

Also in childbirth Leto, as these should come down with Artemis and Apollo, Hera, out of jealousy Eileithyia commissioned to extend the birth.

Cult

She was especially revered as a protector of laboring women in Crete in the Eileithyia cave at Amnissos and in Laconia. Even Hermione in the Peloponnese, there should have been sanctuaries for Eileithyia. According to a report of Pausanias you were there every day with votive offerings and incense offered to victims. No one except the priestesses of these sanctuaries was allowed to see the cult image.

Eileithyia corresponds to the Roman Lucina.

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