Eileithyia is the goddess of childbirth, midwifery, labour pains and the protector of pregnant woman in labour in Greek Mythology.
Family and Genealogy[]
Eileithyia, is the daughter of Zeus and Hera, making her a sister to Ares, Hephaestus and Hebe. She was never recorded as marrying or having children in most of the accounts but according to Pausanias, one account of Greek Mythology, she is the mother of Sosipolis and Eros.
Role[]
As the daughter of Hera and the goddess of childbirth, she is closely associated with her mother, she serves as a mid-wife figure to mothers, allowing and assisting them, give birth to their children.
Her sacred animals are the polecat and weasel.
Synopsis[]
There are a few mentions of Eileithyia in the accounts, when Leto was heavily pregnant with Zeus' children and going through labour, Hera forbade her from giving birth anywhere on land, earth or sea. But luckily Leto escaped to the Island of Delos, a land out of Hera's control. Though Hera had also forbade Eileithyia from doing her job, of assisting Leto's birthing, the Gods managed to distract Hera with a pretty necklace, allowing Eileithyia to sneak to Leto and allow her to successfully birth her twins, Artemis and Apollo. Eileithyia was also an important figure in the Birth of Hercules myth, here Hera also forbade Eileithyia from assisting Alcmene birth her sons, one of whom- being the child of Zeus. However, the mid-wife managed to say a few words to trick the goddess of childbirth, into visiting Alcmene and allowing her to birth her children. Hera who was angered by this plot, turned this midwife into a polecat, out of revenge, which would be claimed by Hecate, and become one of her sacred animals.
Personality[]
Based on her roles in the myths, Eileithyia is a kind, caring and compassionate Goddess, who does not hold the grudges her mother has towards her rivals and enemies, being willing to fulfil her job of allowing all mothers a safe delivery of their children.
Appearance[]
In ancient Greek art, Eileithyia was depicted as a woman wielding a torch, representing the burning pains of childbirth, or with her arms raised in the air to bring the child to the light. She was closely identified with the goddesses Hera and Artemis, both of whom bore epithets of her name.
Significance[]
In ancient Greece,
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
Her name "Eileithyia" means "relieve" and was spelt Ειλειθυια in Ancient Greek.
She is also known as Genetyllis.
Eileithyia's Roman equivalent is named Lucina.