Eilithyia, the Goddess of Childbirth

Eilithyia was the Greek goddess of Childbirth

Eileithyia was the goddess of births. Her main concern was to help women give birth and relieve the pain.
However, since many women died during childbirth, Eilithyia was also considered the goddess who causes the death of women during childbirth.

Eilithyia was the daughter of the Olympian gods Zeus and Hera and also served as Hera's assistant. Her siblings were Ares and Hebe.

Eilithyia was constantly accompanied by the Moirae, the three godesses of fate, especially when giving birth to a child.

According to legend, her name derives from the pleading cry of women about to give birth, "Come!", "Come!", with which they invoked the goddess for help.

The cult of Eilithyia dates back to Minoan times and was first mentioned on the island of Crete. There was a sanctuary of the goddess in the area of the river Ilisos in Ancient Athens, where special dedications were made to the goddess in the form of child sculptures. Eilithyia was also worshipped on the Greek island of Delos as a symbol of fertility in thanksgiving for successful births.

Roman name: Licinia

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