Alcmena

Also known as: Alcmene · Family: mortal · Role: mother of Hercules · First appears: Fable 55

In Fable 55, Alcmena’s present appellation is said to derive from her son Hercules. Jupiter beguiled her while taking the form of Amphitryon.

In Fable 79, as Hercules’s birth approached, Juno persuaded Ilithyïa—also called Lucina in the account—to impede Alcmena’s delivery with a spell. Galanthis, Alcmena’s handmaid, falsely announced that her mistress had given birth; Ilithyïa released her joined hands, the spell broke, and Hercules was born. Fable 109 describes Hercules as the putative son of Amphitryon, Alcmena’s husband.

Relationship record

Life events

• Juno causes Ilithyïa to impede Alcmena’s delivery through magic.(Fable79)
  • With: Juno Ilithyïa 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 Ilithyïa
  • “‘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.”
• Alcmena delivers Hercules after Ilithyïa’s spell is broken.(Fable79)
  • With: Hercules
  • “Upon Ilithyïa withdrawing, Alcmena’s pains are assuaged, and Hercules is born.”

Fable 55

• child: Hercules “from which place his mother, Alcmene, derived her present appellation.”
• admirer: Jupiter “{how} he was Amphitryon, when he beguiled thee, Tirynthian[16] dame;”

Fable 73

• child: Hercules “Hercules, the son of Alcmena”

Fable 77

• child: Hercules “For, since thou, {Hercules}, dost boast thyself born of Alcmena for thy mother;”

Fable 79

• enemies with Juno “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 Ilithyïa (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.”
• child: Hercules “to relate the achievements of her son attested by {all} the world”
• with Iole (Iole is Alcmena's confidante.) “has Iole, to whom to disclose the complaints of her old age, to whom to relate the achievements of her son attested by {all} the world, or to whom {to tell} her own misfortunes.”
• servant: Galanthis “There was present one of my hand-maids of the lower class of people, Galanthis {by name}”
• with Jupiter (They had an amour.) “that which I bore was so great, that you might {easily} pronounce Jupiter to be the father of the concealed burden.”

Fable 80

• with Iole (Iole is telling the story to Alcmena.) “While Iole is relating these circumstances to Alcmena”

Fable 109

• child: Hercules “Hercules was the putative son of Amphitryon, king of Thebes, who was the husband of his mother Alcmena.”
• married with Amphitryon “Hercules was the putative son of Amphitryon, king of Thebes, who was the husband of his mother Alcmena.”

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