Difference between revisions of "Ilithyia"

<p> in Greek and [[Roman]] mythology, is the goddess of birth, the daughter of [[Jupiter]] and Juno, born on Crete, in the Amnisian cave, and sister of Hebe, Mar, and Vulcan. [[Homer]] speaks of a number of Ilithyiae, daughters of Juno, who send the arrow of pain, but help those in childbed. Often [[Ilithyia]] is identified with Juno, which is not strange, since [[Juno]] is the goddess of marriage. The Greek Ilithyia was also identified with Diana, probably because the latter, being the goddess of the moon, a certain influence over birth might be credited her. She is also called Lucina, or genetalis. [[Pindar]] and [[Ovid]] make her the daughter of Juno. In a [[Grecian]] temple erected to her she was represented as wearing a loose robe, and holding in one hand a flambeau. </p>

<p> The Greek goddess who presided over the travail of woman at childbirth, promoting or retarding the birth as the Fates might ordain. </p>