Alcmena
Family: Greek · Role: mother of Hercules · First appears: Book 2 · Chapter 25
Alcmena is described as the daughter of Electryon, king of Midea; Asius’s poems instead represent her as the daughter of Amphiaraus and Eriphyle. Œonus is identified as the son of her brother. In the Greek tradition, Zeus assumed Amphitryon’s appearance, “and so made Alcmena welcome him as her husband.”
When Amphitryon was going to marry Alcmena, he arranged a bridal-bed made by Trophonius and Agamedes. At Thebes, Hera’s agents tried to prevent Alcmena from childbirth, but Historis deceived them; they left, and Alcmena gave birth to a boy. Her son Hercules is mentioned sacrificing at Olympia during a great plague of flies.
Relationship record
Life events
- Zeus assumes Amphitryon's appearance, and Alcmena welcomes him as her husband.(Book 5 · Chapter 18)
- With: Zeus Amphitryon
- “Zeus assumed the appearance of Amphitryon, and so made Alcmena welcome him as her husband.”
- Amphitryon prepared to marry Alcmena, with a bridal-bed made by Trophonius and Agamedes.(Book 9 · Chapter 11)
- With: Amphitryon Trophonius Agamedes
- “When Amphitryon was going to marry Alcmena, he contrived this bridal-bed for himself, and Anchasian Trophonius and Agamedes made it.”
- Historis deceived Hera’s agents, allowing Alcmena to give birth to a boy.(Book 9 · Chapter 11)
Book 2 · Chapter 25
- parent: Electryon (Electryon is Alcmena's father.) “They say that Electryon the father of Alcmena was king of Midea.”
Book 3 · Chapter 15
- with Œonus (Œonus was the son of Alcmena's unnamed brother.) “for he was the son of Alcmena’s brother”
Book 5 · Chapter 14
- child: Hercules “when Hercules, the son of Alcmena, was sacrificing at Olympia there was a great plague of flies”
Book 5 · Chapter 17
- parent: Amphiaraus “Asius in his poems has also represented Alcmena as the daughter of Amphiaraus and Eriphyle”
- parent: Eriphyle “Asius in his poems has also represented Alcmena as the daughter of Amphiaraus and Eriphyle”
Book 5 · Chapter 18
- married with Amphitryon (Amphitryon is identified as the husband whose appearance Zeus assumed.) “According to the Greek tradition, Zeus assumed the appearance of Amphitryon, and so made Alcmena welcome him as her husband.”
- with Zeus (Zeus deceived Alcmena by appearing as Amphitryon.) “According to the Greek tradition, Zeus assumed the appearance of Amphitryon, and so made Alcmena welcome him as her husband.”
Book 8 · Chapter 2
- child: Hercules “as Aristæus, and Britomartis of Crete, and Hercules the son of Alcmena, and Amphiaraus the son of Œcles, and besides them Castor and Pollux.”
Book 9 · Chapter 11
- courtship with Amphitryon “When Amphitryon was going to marry Alcmena, he contrived this bridal-bed for himself, and Anchasian Trophonius and Agamedes made it.”
- with Hera (Hera sent agents to prevent Alcmena from giving birth.) “The Thebans call them Sorceresses, and say that they were sent by Hera to prevent Alcmena from childbirth.”
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Extracted from the original text of Pausanias' Description of Greece. Made with Rho MD.