May 5: International Midwives Day

In his book about an ideal city, Plato suggested a “department of procreation”.The goddess who could help with this, was Eileithyia (Lucina in latin). Her name means “bringer of light”, and she’s depicted with torches. Women interpreted these as an illustration of the burning pain of giving birth. Eileithyia is mostly mentioned in a supporting role, like when she freed beautiful baby Adonis from the trunk that his mother was transformed into. But in some notorious cases, (Artemis and Apollo, or Herakles), she went in obstruction mode, on behalf of her mother Hera, who couldn’t stand more offspring of Zeus entering the world. Eileithyia had only one son herself, Sosipolis. He was revered in Elis, because as a toddler, Eileithyia had put him at the head of their army, when they came under attack. The boy promptly shapeshifted into a snake and scared the enemy off. Which gained him a cult and a temple. If Eileithyia ever took her son back in her arms, and in what form, is not known.

Woman dying in childbirth, stele, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, USA

Child statue, Antikensammlung Berlin, Germany