Eileithyia

Overview

Eileithyia is a daughter of Zeus and Hera and a goddess connected with labour pains and childbirth. Hesiod names her in the genealogy, while the Homeric Hymn to Apollo turns her absence and arrival into narrative causality. Hera keeps her unaware of Leto's suffering, the goddesses send Iris with the promise of a golden necklace, and when Eileithyia reaches Delos Leto goes into labour. This gives her an independent action rather than treating her as merely another child of Hera.

Key facts

Relationships

• Heramother of

  Hera and Zeus are parents of Eileithyia.

Story appearances

• Olympian OrderDaughter of Zeus and Hera and goddess of childbirth whose arrival at Delos enables Leto's delivery.

  Daughter of Zeus and Hera and goddess of childbirth whose arrival at Delos enables Leto's delivery.

Ancient sources

MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.

• Hesiod, Theogony, Lines 918–929: the families of Leto and Hera and the births of Athena and Hephaestus
• Homeric Hymn tradition, Homeric Hymn to Apollo, Lines 89–120: Eileithyia reaches Delos and Leto gives birth