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Eileithyia, a MythSource painting
Greek

Eileithyia

Goddess of Childbirth · Helper in Labor · Bringer of Birth

01Identity

Eileithyia in Greek tradition

Bringing children to the light, Eileithyia presided over childbirth and the dangers of labour. She could help or hinder delivery, and her name was also used in the plural for divine beings who aided or obstructed birth. In Homer, Hera restrained her from helping Alcmene, while later accounts describe active hindrance. Unlike Artemis, with whom she was sometimes identified, Eileithyia’s specific office is childbirth rather than the wider identity of the virgin hunt goddess.

Top questions

The quick answers

  • Who is Eileithyia?

    Eileithyia is a Greek deity associated with childbirth and delivery; labor pains and birth pangs; women in labor; safe delivery; and the birth of children.
    Source

    Source

    • The Library of Greek Mythology (Oxford World's Classics)
    • Classical Mythology a to Z
    • Light and Darkness in Ancient Greek Myth and Religion

  • What is Eileithyia the goddess of?

    Eileithyia is associated with childbirth and delivery; labor pains and birth pangs; women in labor; safe delivery; and the birth of children.
    Source

    Source

    • The Library of Greek Mythology (Oxford World's Classics)

  • What family links are recorded for Eileithyia?

    Father: Zeus, Mother: Hera.
02Family

Eileithyia’s family, at a glance

ZeusHera
Eileithyia
03The names

The names Eileithyia answers to

Ilithyia

Latinized form of Eileithyia's name

SourceClassical Mythology a to Z

Eleuthyia

Alternate Greek form of the name

SourceThe Library of Greek Mythology (Oxford World's Classics)

Eileithuia

Alternate transliteration of the Greek name

SourceThe Library of Greek Mythology (Oxford World's Classics)

Lochia

The birth goddess or goddess of childbirth

SourceLight and Darkness in Ancient Greek Myth and Religion

04The myths

The myths of Eileithyia

1 myth, with sources recorded for each.

The Birth of Eileithyia

Hera gave birth to Eileithyia. Eileithyia became the divine power over labour and childbirth. She ruled the moment when a child came into the light, and her presence decided whether the birth went forward or was delayed.

Eileithyia brought children into the light and saved them from black night. She dispensed light and splendid-limbed Hebe. Through these powers, she watched over childbirth and guarded children as they passed from darkness into life.

The name Eileithyia also belonged to divine beings who helped or hindered childbirth. In one telling, Hera restrained the Eileithyiai from helping Alcmene. Zeus had declared that the descendant of Perseus who was about to be born would become king of Mycenae. Hera, acting from jealousy, persuaded the Eileithyiai to delay Alcmene’s delivery, while she arranged for Eurystheus, the son of Sthenelus, to be born after seven months. In later tellings, the Eileithyiai took a more active part and hindered the birth themselves.

Eileithyia was also identified with Artemis. Artemis held powers over danger and healing, virginity and childbearing. Under names such as Lochia, Eulochia, Geneteira and Soodina, she watched over childbirth. As Eileithyia, she remained connected with bringing children into the light and with the dangers that surrounded their birth.

The Birth of Eileithyia, a MythSource painting of the scene

3 sources· checked 2026-08-19

  1. 1The Library of Greek Mythology (Oxford World's Classics)T1
  2. 2Apollodorus, The LibraryT1

    Quote

    “Zeus marries Hera, and together they have Hebe, Eileithyia and Ares as their children.”

    Apollodorus, The Library

  3. 3Greek Myths & TalesT1

Also mentioned in

Stories elsewhere on MythSource that mention Eileithyia, each on that figure’s page.

Continue the road

More of Eileithyia’s family, sourced

ZeusFather