Eileithyia
Eileithyia | |
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Goddess of childbirth | |
Lucina | |
Egyptian equivalent | Taweret |
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Ancient Greek religion |
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Eileithyia or Ilithyia (
Etymology
The earliest form of the name is the
The etymology of the name is uncertain, but debated among scholars.
Origins
According to F. Willets, the goddess shows a clear connection to a preexisting Minoan goddess, as well as an earlier Neolithic concept. Eileithyia's guidance in childbirth may give influence of the first midwife.[14] To Homer, she is "the goddess of childbirth".[15] The Iliad pictures Eileithyia alone, or sometimes multiplied, as the Eileithyiai:
And even as when the sharp dart striketh a woman in travail, [270] the piercing dart that the Eilithyiae, the goddesses of childbirth, send—even the daughters of Hera that have in their keeping bitter pangs;[16]
— Iliad 11.269–272
Eleithuia, seated beside the deep-thinking Fates, hear me, creator of offspring, child of Hera great in strength.
— Seventh Nemean Ode, Line 1, translated by Diane Arnson Svarlien, 1990
Later, for the Classical Greeks, "She is closely associated with Artemis and Hera," Burkert asserts, "but develops no character of her own".[20] In the Orphic Hymn to Prothyraeia, virginal Artemis is given an epithet relating to the goddess of childbirth, making the divine huntress also "she who comes to the aid of women in childbirth":[21]
When racked with labour 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 labour's dreadful hour.— Orphic Hymn 2, to Prothyraeia, as translated by Thomas Taylor, 1792.
Eileithyia is commonly in classical Greek art most often depicted assisting childbirth. Vase-painters, when illustrating the birth of Athena from Zeus' head, may show two assisting Eileithyiai, with their hands raised in the epiphany gesture. The Beauty of Durrës, a large 4th-century B.C.E. mosaic shows the head figure of a woman, probably portrays the goddess Eileithyia.[22] A fragment by Callimachus has Eileithyia assist her full-sister Hebe in her labour,[23] presumably when she gave birth to Alexiares and Anicetus, her sons by Heracles.
Cult
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 that she was extremely important to pregnant women and their families.[24] People would pray for and leave offerings for aid in fertility, safe childbirth, or give appreciation for a successful birth.[25] Archaeological evidence of terracotta votive figurines depict children found at shrines, and holy sites dedicated to Eileithyia suggest that she was a kourotrophic divinity, whom parents would have prayed to for protection and care of their children.[25] Midwives had an essential role in ancient Greek society, with women of all classes participating in the profession - many being slaves with only empirical training or some theoretical training in obstetrics and gynecology.[26] More highly educated midwives, typically from higher classes, were referred to as iatrenes or doctors of women's diseases and would be respected as physicians.[26]
She was invoked by women in labour, to ease the pain of labour, and to further the birth. Callimachus recorded the hymn:[27]
Even so again, Eileithyia, come thou when Kykainis calls, to bless her pains with easy birth; so may thy fragrant shrine have, as now this offering for a girl, some other offering hereafter for a boy.
— Callimachus, Epigrams 54, translated by Mair[full citation needed]
She was strongly connected with the goddesses Artemis and Hekate, sharing with the latter strong chthonic elements in her cult.[25]
Achaea
Pausanias described a sanctuary to the goddess in the city of
Aside from the sanctuary in the city of Aigion, Pausanias also noted that there were temples to the goddess in the towns of Boura[29] and Pellene in Achaea.[30]
Arcadia
Pausanias described two sanctuaries to the goddess in Arcadia, one in the town of Kleitor[31] and the other one in Tegea.[32] In Kleitor, she was worshipped as one of the most important deities, along with Demeter and Asklepios, and her sanctuary the most important one alongside the other two.[31]
Argos
Offerings were often given to the goddess Eileithyia within the ten days following a child's birth[33] Pausanias describes a sanctuary to her in the city of Argos, and the myth associated with it: "Near the Lords [sanctuary of the Dioskouroi at Argos] is a sanctuary of Eilethyia, dedicated by Helene when, Theseus having gone away with Peirithous to Thesprotia, Aphidna had been captured by the Dioskouroi and Helen was being brought to Lakedaimon. For it is said that she was with child, was delivered in Argos, and founded the sanctuary of Eilethyia, giving the daughter she bore to Klytaimnestra, who was already wedded to Agamemnon."[34] Pausanias noted a shrine to her in Mycenae, and an important shrine in Mases in Argolis: "[At Mases, Argos] there is a sanctuary of Eileithyia within the wall. Every day, both with sacrifices and with incense, they magnificently propitiate the goddess, and, moreover, there is a vast number of votive gifts offered to Eileithyia. But the image no one may see, except, perhaps, the priestesses."[35]
Athens
There were ancient icons of Eileithyia at Athens, one said to have been brought from Crete, according to
Pausanias noted:
[Near the Prytaneion or Town Hall of Athens] is a temple of Eileithyia, who they say came from the Hyperboreans to Delos and helped Leto in her labour; and from Delos the name spread to other peoples. The Delians sacrifice to Eileithyia and sing a hymn of Olen. But the Kretans suppose that Eileithyia was born at Amnisos in the Knossian territory [in Krete], and that Hera was her mother. Only among the Athenians are the wooden figures of Eileithyia draped to the feet. The women told me that two are Kretan, being offerings of Phaidra [daughter of the mythical King Minos of Krete], and that the third, which is the oldest, Erysikhthon [an early king of Athens] brought from Delos.[37]
Corinth
Pausanias noted a sanctuary in Corinth: "When you have turned from the Akrokorinthos [at Korinthos] into the mountain road you see the Teneatic gate and a sanctuary of Eileithyia."[38]
Crete
The
In classical times, there were shrines to Eileithyia in the Cretan cities of
Delos
According to the
Eretriam
Archaeologists uncovered a sanctuary dedicated to Eileithyia at Eretria. The sanctuary had been placed in the northwestern section of a gymnasium.[47][full citation needed]
Messene
Pausanias noted that "The Messenians have a temple erected to Eileithyia [at Messene, Messenia] with a stone statue."[48]
Olympia
On the Greek mainland, at
Paros
Eileithyia had a cult south of the Mount Kounados on the
Sparta
There was a sanctuary dedicated to Eileithyia near the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia,[24] which Pausanias noted: "Not far from Orthia [the temple of Artemis in Sparta, Lakedaimon] is a sanctuary of Eileithyia. They say that they built it, and came to worship Eileithyia as a goddess, because of an oracle from Delphoi."[50]
Genealogy
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Notes
- ^ Joseph Emerson Worcester, A comprehensive dictionary of the English language, Boston, 1871, p. 480, rule 3, where he notes the word has four syllables as in Greek and Latin, "not I-lith-y-i'-a as in Walker" (e.g. Walker and Trollope, A key to the classical pronunciation etc., London, 1830, p. 123).
- ^ a b Nilsson Vol I, p. 313
- ^ Gantz, pp. 82–83.
- ^ F.Schachermeyer(1967).Die Minoische Kultur des alten Kreta. Kohlhammer Verlag Stuttgart. pp. 141–142
- ^ Pausanias, Description of Greece, 6.20
- ^ "The Linear B word e-re-u-ti-ja". Palaeolexicon. Word study tool of Ancient languages. Raymoure, K. A. "e-re-u-ti-ja". Minoan Linear A & Mycenaean Linear B. Deaditerranean. Archived from the original on 2016-03-18. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
- ^ R. S. P. Beekes, Etymological Dictionary of Greek, Brill, 2009, p. 383.
- ^ Max Müller, Contributions to the Science of Mythology, Vol. 2, Kessinger Publishing, 2003 [1897], p. 697
- ^ a b Walter Burkert (1985) Greek Religion. Harvard University Press p.171
- ^ Nilsson, Vol I, p. 312
- Eleusis". Willets, p. 222.
- ^ F.Schachermeyer (1967). Die Minoische Kultur des alten Kreta. Stuttgart: W. Kohlhammer. p. 141
- ^ Nilsson Vol I, p. 312
- S2CID 246878304.
- ^ Homer, Iliad 16.187, 19.103.
- ^ Homer, Iliad 11.270, The plural is also used at Iliad 19.119.
- ^ a b Hesiod, Theogony 912–923.
- ^ Greek Anthology Book 6, 6.244
- ^ a b Pausanias, 6.20.
- OCLC 1120879562.
- ^ Graves, Robert (1955). The Greek Myths.
- ^ Bank of Albania. Coin with "The Beauty of Durrës". Archived 2012-03-05 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Callimachus Fr. 524: Εἰνατίην ὁμόδελφυν ἐπ᾿ ὠδίνεσσιν ἰδοῦσα.
- ^ a b c Dillon, Matthew (2002). Girls and Women in Classical Greek Religion. Milton Park, Oxfordshire: Routledge. p. 230.
- ^ a b c d e Wise, Susan (2007). Childbirth Votives and Rituals in Ancient Greece (PhD). University of Cincinnati.
- ^ S2CID 207435300.
- . Retrieved 2021-12-05.
- ^ Pausanias, Description of Greece 7. 23. 5
- ^ Pausanias, Description of Greece 7. 25. 9
- ^ Pausanias, Description of Greece 7. 27. 7
- ^ a b Pausanias, Description of Greece 8. 21. 3
- ^ Pausanias, Description of Greece 8. 48. 7
- ^ Sophocles (1894). The Plays and Fragments. Translated by Jebb, Richard C. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Part VI: The Electra.
- ^ Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 22. 6
- ^ Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 35. 11
- ^ Pausanias, 8.48.7 .
- ^ Pausanias, Description of Greece 1. 18. 5 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.)
- ^ Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 5. 4
- ^ Homer, Odyssey 19.189.
- ^ Smith, William (1854). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography; Amni'sus. Walton and Maberly.
- ^ For the proceedings and findings of the archaeology, see Amnisos.
- ^ Walter Burkert (1985). Greek Religion. Harvard University Press. p. 26
- ^ Dietrich, pp. 220–221.
- ^ Dietrich, p. 109.
- ^ Dietrich, p. 167
- ^ JSTOR 284008.
- ^ "Ancient Gymnasium Uncovered on Greek Island of Evia"
- ^ Pausanias, Description of Greece 4. 31. 9
- S2CID 144513687.
- ^ Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 17. 1
- ^ According to Homer, Iliad 1.570–579, 14.338, Odyssey 8.312, Hephaestus was apparently the son of Hera and Zeus, see Gantz, p. 74.
- ^ According to Hesiod, Theogony 927–929, Hephaestus was produced by Hera alone, with no father, see Gantz, p. 74.
References
- Baur, Paul Victor Christopher, 1872. (1902). Eileithyia. University of Missouri, 1902.
- Beekes, R. S. P., Etymological Dictionary of Greek, Brill, 2009.
- Burkert, Walter, Greek Religion, 1985.
- Bury, R. G., The Symposium of Plato. Cambridge. W. Heffer and Sons. 1909. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library
- Callimachus. Works. A.W. Mair. London: William Heinemann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 1921. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library
- Gantz, Timothy, Early Greek Myth: A Guide to Literary and Artistic Sources, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, Two volumes: ISBN 978-0-8018-5362-3(Vol. 2).
- Graves, Robert, The Greek Myths, 1955.
- Herodotus, The Histories with an English translation by A. D. Godley. Cambridge. Harvard University Press. 1920. Online Version at the Perseus Digital Library
- Hesiod, Theogony, in The Homeric Hymns and Homerica with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White, Cambridge, Massachusetts., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1914. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
- Homer, Homeric Hymn to Apollo, in The Homeric Hymns and Homerica with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White. Homeric Hymns. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1914. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
- Homer, The Iliad with an English Translation by A. T. Murray, Ph.D., in two volumes. Cambridge, Massachusetts., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
- Homer; The Odyssey with an English Translation by A. T. Murray, Ph.D., in two volumes. Cambridge, Massachusetts., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1919. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
- Kerenyi, Karl, Dionysus: Archetypal Image of Indestructible Life, English translation 1976.
- Nilsson, Martin P. (1927) 1950. The Minoan-Mycenaean Religion and Its Survival in Greek Religion 2nd ed. (Lund"Gleerup).
- Pausanias, Pausanias Description of Greece with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H. A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
- Pindar, Odes, Nemean 7 for Sogenes of Aegina Boys' Pentathlon with an English Translation by Diane Arnson Svarlien. 1990. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library
- Plato. Plato in Twelve Volumes, Vols. 10 & 11 translated by R.G. Bury. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1967 & 1968. Online Version at the Perseus Digital Library
- Smith, William, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, LLD. London. Walton and Maberly, 1854. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library
- Sophocles: The Plays and Fragments, with critical notes, commentary, and translation in English prose. Part VI: The Electra. Sir Richard C. Jebb. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. 1894. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library
- Willetts, R. F. "Cretan Eileithyia" The Classical Quarterly New Series, 8.3/4 (November 1958), pp. 221–223