Ilithyïa

Also known as: Lucina · Role: goddess of childbirth · First appears: Fable 79

Life events

• Juno causes Ilithyïa to impede Alcmena’s delivery through magic.(Fable79)
  • With: Juno Alcmena Hercules
  • “Juno, to be revenged on Alcmena for her amour with Jupiter, desires Ilithyïa, the Goddess who presides over births, not to assist her on the occasion of the birth of Hercules. Lucina complies with her request, and places herself on an altar at the gate of Alcmena’s abode, where, by a magic spell, she increases her pains and impedes her delivery.”
• Galanthis falsely announces Alcmena’s delivery, causing Ilithyïa to release her spell.(Fable79)
  • With: Galanthis Alcmena
  • “‘Whoever thou art, congratulate my mistress; the Argive Alcmena is delivered, and, having brought forth, she has gained her wishes.’ The Goddess who presides[34] over pregnancy leaped up, and, struck with surprise, loosened her joined hands.”
• Ilithyïa transforms Galanthis into a weazel as punishment for her deception.(Fable79)
  • With: Galanthis
  • “The Goddess, to punish Galanthis for her officiousness, transforms her into a weazel, a creature which was supposed to bring forth its young through its mouth.”

Fable 79

• with Juno (Juno requests that Ilithyïa withhold assistance.) “Juno, to be revenged on Alcmena for her amour with Jupiter, desires Ilithyïa, the Goddess who presides over births, not to assist her on the occasion of the birth of Hercules.”
• with Alcmena (Ilithyïa obstructs Alcmena's labor on Juno's behalf.) “She came, indeed, but corrupted beforehand, and she had the intention to give my life to the vengeful Juno.”
• enemies with Galanthis “The cruel Goddess dragged her along {thus} laughing and seized by her very hair, and she hindered her as she attempted to raise her body from the earth, and changed her arms into fore feet.”
• with Galanthis (interaction) “‘Whoever thou art, congratulate my mistress; the Argive Alcmena is delivered, and, having brought forth, she has gained her wishes.’”
• with Galanthis (Ilithyïa punished and transformed Galanthis.) “The cruel Goddess dragged her along {thus} laughing and seized by her very hair, and she hindered her as she attempted to raise her body from the earth, and changed her arms into fore feet.”

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Extracted from the original text of The Metamorphoses of Ovid. Made with Rho MD.