Eileithyia (Ilithyia) is an ancient Greek goddess of birth, the process of childbirth and midwifery. She can be one goddess, or several. In this way she relates to the divine Mesopotamian entities Šassūrātu (Sassuratu), and the Kotharat of Syria. Her powers of protection are invoked by birthing mothers.
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With guardian powers of childbirth she's also in the sphere of the Egyptian hippopotamus goddess, Taweret, a ferocious protector of mothers and infants. Her later Roman equivalent is Lucina.
The Greek Eileithyia is considered a daughter of Hera and Zeus. Regionally on the Peloponnese Peninsula she may also be known as Eleuthia or Elysia. She doesn't have a consort.
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At her cult center on Crete, specifically in the cave of Amnisos on the north shore of the island, Eileithyia relates to the annual rebirth of the unnamed "divine child". Here she connects with Enesidaon, Earth Shaker, the chthonic aspect of Poseidon.
Her cult may also be related to that of Eleusis and the Eleusinian Mysteries. The Mysteries revolve around the life/death/rebirth cycle. Early worship centers upon the grain goddess Demeter and her daughter, Despoina.
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Eileithyia is described sitting with the Moirai, or the Fates, where she is responsible for the creation of offspring. The three Greek Fates are Clotho (the spinner), Lachesis (the allotter), and Atropos (the inevitable, or death).
She has a son, Sosipolis, meaning 'savior of the state'. He's usually portrayed as a boy or youth in a military cloak, carrying the horn of Amalthea, a cornucopia. In the form or a serpent he brings victory to Elis, southwest Peloponnese. He's worshiped at Elis as patron or tutelary god.
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The Goddess Eileithyia seems to pre-date the mainland Greek cultures. She may be based on an earlier Minoan goddess, who in turn evolves from a Neolithic entity. She has attributes of healing and knowledge of herbs and plants. She eases the pain of childbirth.
In the Iliad c. 8th century BCE Homer writes,
" ... And even as when the sharp dart striketh a woman in travail, the piercing dart that the Eilithyiae, the goddesses of childbirth, send - even the daughters of Hera that have in their keeping bitter pangs ... "
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The Greek traveler Pausanias, writing in the 2nd century AD, reports another early source which is now lost. Pausanias writes,
"The Lycian Olen, an earlier poet, who composed for the Delians, among other hymns, one to Eileithyia, styles her as 'the clever spinner', clearly identifying her with the Fates, thus making her older than Cronus."
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It's clear Eileithyia is a goddess whose evolutionary origins go back to early times. She's associated with both Artemis and Hera. Artemis, in her aspect of childbirth goddess takes Eileithyia's name as an epithet. A 1792 translation by Thomas Taylor puts forth:
"When racked with labor pangs, and sore distressed the sex invoke thee, as the soul's sure rest; for thou Eileithyia alone canst give relief to pain, which art attempts to ease, but tries in vain.
Artemis Eileithyia, venerable power, who bringest relief in labor's dreadful hour."
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In Classical Greek art, Eileithyia is typically shown assisting the childbirth. She may appear as two Eileithyiai working in harmony.
As the primary goddess of childbirth along with Artemis, Eileithyia had numerous shrines in many locations in Greece dating from Neolithic to Roman times, indicating her importance to pregnant women and their families.
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People pray, recite incantations and leave offerings for aid in fertility, safe childbirth, or give appreciation for a successful birth. Terracotta votive figurines include those of children. Holy sites dedicated to her suggest parents pray to her to safeguard their children.
As in most cultures, midwives play a vital part in ancient Greece. Women of all classes can take up the profession, even slaves with only basic or theoretical training in obstetrics and gynecology.
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More highly educated midwives, usually from the upper classes, are known as iatrenes, or doctors of women's diseases. They're well respected as physicians.
Apart from Artemis, Eileithyia is associated with the chthonic figure Hecate (Hekate), goddess of night, magic, crossroads. Hecate's symbol is the snake, representing rebirth, medicine and fertility. Snakes and the Underworld are also associated with vegetation and the fertile earth.
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Eileithyia's worship sites include Achaea, Arcadia, Argos, Athens, Corinth, Crete, Delos, Eretriam, Messene, Olympia, Pyros and Sparta. The temple at Sparta is even recommended to worshipers by the Delphic Oracle.
In Argos, offerings are brought to the temple of Eileithyia in the ten days following a birth. In Athens Eileithyia can be an independent goddess, or form a trinity with Artemis and Persephone.
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In Crete, the Cave of Eileithyia near the harbor of Knossos is considered the birthplace of the Goddess. Votive offerings to her are found here since Neolithic times.
In the deific family tree, Hebe the Cupbearer and Goddess of Youth; Ares the God of War and Courage; and Hephaestus the metal smith are siblings of Eileithyia.
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