Eileithyia

Eileithyia is the ancient Greek goddess of childbirth and midwifery. She presides over labor and delivery and was believed to aid both mothers and infants during the process of birth. In classical sources her role is that of a divine helper who secures a safe delivery and eases the pains of labor.

Name and variations: Eileithyia (also spelled Ilithyia in some transliterations) is the form most common in Greek texts, with Ilithyia appearing in Latin and later writings. The name is usually interpreted as related to bringing forth or bringing into the world, reflecting her function in birth.

Parentage and family: In the prevailing tradition, Eileithyia is a daughter of Zeus and Hera, making her a sister to other Olympian deities such as Hebe and Hephaestus. Some local or earlier accounts offer variations of her parentage, but she is consistently linked with the couple who rule the Greek pantheon.

Cult and worship: Eileithyia had cult centers on the Greek mainland and especially in Crete, with temples and sanctuaries dedicated to her in places such as Knossos and Amnisos. She was invoked by women in labor and by physicians and midwives who assisted with delivery. Her worship underscores the importance of childbirth in ancient Greek religion and daily life, reflecting a need to seek divine aid at a critical moment.

Myth and legacy: In myth and poetry, Eileithyia is associated with the relief and protection of childbirth, and she is called upon in stories and prayers relating to labor. The goddess’s cult persisted into later periods and influenced interpretations of birth in Greco-Roman religious practice.

Roman equivalent: In Roman religion, her counterpart is Lucina, a goddess invoked for safe delivery. Greek and Roman traditions often identified or syncretized their deities in matters of childbirth and midwifery.