She prolonged the labour of Heracles' mother Alcmene, upon order from her mother with deep concentration, until she was disturbed by a midwife. In Roman mythology, Eileithyia is closely equated with Lucina. According to some there were two Eileithyiai, one who furthered birth and one who protracted the labor. He was the brother of Deimos (terror), Harmonia (harmony), Adrestia, Eros (love), Anteros, Himerus, and Pothos. Phobos was the god of fear in Greek mythology, son of the gods Ares and Aphrodite. She was the daughter of Zeus and Hera, being one of four children born to them. Goddess of Childbirth and Birth Pain Once Hera ordered her to not let Heracles's mom give birth. She was born in a cave near Knossos,Crete, and became the main place of worship for the goddess. The ancients derive her name from the verb ἐλεύθειν (eleuthein), according to which it would signify the coming or helping goddess.She was the goddess of birth, who came to the assistance of women in labor; and when she was kindly disposed, she furthered the birth, but when she was angry, she protracted the labor and delayed the birth. Eileithyia. She held a torch, which represented both light and the burning pains of labour, or else held her hands up to present the child to the light. She was the divine helper of women who were in labour. The name of the town, Eleusís, seems to be Pre-Greek and it is probably a counterpart with Elysium and the goddess Eileithyia. Eileithyia or Ilithyiae or Ilithyia (/ ɪ l ɪ ˈ θ aɪ. ə /; Greek: Εἰλείθυια; Ἐλεύθυια (Eleuthyia) in Crete, also Ἐλευθία (Eleuthia) or Ἐλυσία (Elysia) in Laconia and Messene, and Ἐλευθώ (Eleuthō) in literature) was the Greek goddess of childbirth and midwifery. Eileithyia was the goddess of childbirth, she was also the last child of Zeus and Hera. Eileithyia is believed to be a Minoan goddess assimilated into the Greek pantheon as Hera’s daughter. Her name does not appear to have an Indo-European etymology, which for R. F. Willets [3] strengthens her link with Minoan culture. She is a daughter of Zeus and Hera. Instead Eileithyia helped Eurystheus's mom give birth. Godchecker guide to Eileithyia (also known as Eleuthia), the Greek Goddess of Childbirth from Greek mythology. On the Greek mainland, at Olympia, an archaic shrine with an inner cella sacred to the serpent-savior of the city (Sosipolis) and to Eileithyia was seen by the traveller Pausanias in the 2nd century AD (Greece vi.20.1–3); in it a virgin-priestess cared for a serpent that was "fed" on honeyed barley-cakes and water—an offering suited to Demeter. The Greek goddess Eileithyia was a goddess of birth, who could hasten or delay the birth of a child, and make it more or less painful. Eileithyia is thegoddessof childbirth and labor pains. this childbearing stuff hurts! Eileithyia, or Ilythia, is the Greek goddess of childbirth and midwifery. Eileithyia is the ancient goddess of childbirth, midwifery, and birthing pains. In Greek mythology, Eileithyia (or Ilithyia) was the goddess of childbirth who held the cow and the peacock as sacred animals. She works very closely with Hera and is Hera’s weapon in her struggle to prevent Zeus’ other wives from giving birth and threatening the sovereignty and statues of her own children. She is the mother of Sosipolis and her sacred symbols include a polecat, a weasel, and a torch. It was almost like Hera thought, "Wow. Eileithyia. He followed his father into battle, along with his companions, Enyo (the war goddess); Eris (the goddess of discord); and his brother, Deimos. In Greek mythology,Eileithyia (Greek:Ειλειθυια, "relieve") is the goddess of childbirth, labor pains, and midwifery. Eileithyia or Ilithyia (Template:Pron-en, Template:Lang-grc), was the Cretan goddess adopted into ancient Greek religion and myth as the goddess of childbirth and midwifery. We should really have a god for this."