In Greek mythology , Alcmene ( / æ l k ˈ m iː n iː / alk- MEE -nee ; Attic Greek : Ἀλκμήνη , romanized: Alkmḗnē ) or Alcmena ( / æ l k ˈ m iː n ə / alk- MEE -nə ; Doric Greek : Ἀλκμάνα , romanized: Alkmána ; Latin : Alcumena ; meaning "strong in wrath") was the wife of Amphitryon , by whom she bore two children, Iphicles and Laonome . She is best known as the mother of Heracles , whose father was the god Zeus . Alcmene was also referred to as Electryone ( Ἠλεκτρυώνη , Elektryṓnē ), a patronymic name as a daughter of Electryon .
31-522: According to the Bibliotheca , Alcmene was born to Electryon , the son of Perseus and Andromeda , and king of Tiryns and Mycenae or Medea in Argolis . Her mother was Anaxo , daughter of Alcaeus and Astydamia . Other accounts say her mother was Lysidice , the daughter of Pelops and Hippodameia , or Eurydice , the daughter of Pelops. According to Pausanias , the poet Asius made Alcmene
62-490: A child so large. After seven days she called for assistance from Lucina , the goddess of childbirth (that is, the Greek Eileithyia ). However, Lucina did not help her due to the wishes of Hera . Instead, she clasped her hands and crossed her legs, preventing the child from being born. Alcmene struggled in pain, cursed the heavens, and became close to death. Galanthis noticed Lucina and deduced Hera's plans. She told
93-586: A daughter of the Theban Proetus , and a playmate of Alcmene. In his version, Eileithyia and the Moerae came to Alcmene and held her tight to make her labor pains last longer, so as to please Hera. Galinthias confused them by telling that Alcmene had given birth by the will of Zeus , and accordingly all the rites in honor of the birth goddesses had been cancelled. The goddesses were taken aback and loosened their grip so Alcmene delivered. The Moerae, enraged by
124-534: A student of Aristarchus of Samothrace who also worked in Alexandria. It is known—from references in the minor scholia on Homer—that Apollodorus of Athens did leave a similar comprehensive repertory on mythology, in the form of a verse chronicle. The mistaken attribution was made by scholars following Photius' mention of the name, though Photius did not name him as the Athenian and the name was in common use at
155-470: A wide number of sources like early epic, early Hellenistic poets, and mythographical summaries of tales. Homer and Hesiod are the most frequently named along with other poets. Oral tradition and the plays written by Aeschylus , Sophocles and Euripides also factored into the compilation of myth in the Bibliotheca . The Bibliotheca was written in the first or second century CE by an author who
186-546: Is by Photius, patriarch of Constantinople in 9th century CE, in his "account of books read". The last section of the Bibliotheca which breaks off during the section on Theseus is missing in surviving manuscripts, Photius had the full work and mentions that the lost section had myths about the heroes of the Trojan War . Byzantine author John Tzetes , who lived in Constantinople in the twelfth century, often cited
217-526: Is presented in Amphitryon , a comedic play by Plautus . Here Alcmene calls upon Jupiter, who performs a miracle allowing her to give birth quickly and without pain. After a crash of thunder and light, the baby arrives without anyone's assistance. After the death of Amphitryon, Alcmene married Rhadamanthys , son of Zeus, and lived with him in exile at Ocaleae in Boeotia . It is said that after Heracles
248-564: Is referred to as Pseudo-Apollodorus to differentiate from Apollodorus of Athens, who did not write the Bibliotheca . The text is largely intact except for the last section, ending in the middle of the narrative of Theseus . In the later scholarship it is used as a reference material. Source: 1. Theogony 2. The Deucalionids 3. Jason and the Argonauts 4. Early Argive mythology (the Inachids, Belid line) 5. Heracles, and
279-460: The Bibliotheca was referred to in scholarship about Ancient Greece most often found in letters from scholars of the time. Much of the modern scholarship on the work has focused on the interpretation of its manuscripts by various translators and compilers of the Bibliotheca in later editions. A critical view of past interpretations, compilations, and organization has also been a source of contention. The sources of information that may have informed
310-513: The goddess of childbirth (the Roman equivalent of Eileithyia ). While Lucina did go to Alcmene, she had been previously instructed by Juno (Hera) to prevent the delivery. With her hands clasped and legs crossed, Lucina muttered charms, thereby preventing Alcmene from giving birth. Alcmene writhed in pain, cursed the heavens, and came close to death. Galanthis , a maid of Alcmene who was nearby, observed Lucina's behaviour and quickly deduced that it
341-577: The Bibliotheca in his writings. It was almost lost in the 13th century, surviving in one now-incomplete manuscript, which was copied for Cardinal Bessarion in the 15th century. Any surviving manuscripts of the Bibliotheca are descended from a fourteenth century manuscript in the Bibliothèque nationale de France , in Paris. The first printed edition of the Bibliotheca of Pseudo-Apollodorus
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#1732791895149372-682: The Heraclids 6. Cretan and Theban mythology (the Inachids, Agenorid line). 7. The Theban Wars 8. Arcadian mythology (the Pelasgids) 9. Laconian and Trojan mythology (the Atlantids) 10. The Asopids 11. The Kings of Athens Epitome 12. The Pelopids 13. The Trojan war 14. The returns A certain "Apollodorus" is indicated as author on some surviving manuscripts, this Apollodorus has been mistakenly identified with Apollodorus of Athens (born c. 180 BC E),
403-456: The Olympieum at Megara. Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus) The Bibliotheca ( Ancient Greek : Βιβλιοθήκη , Bibliothēkē , 'Library'), also known as the Bibliotheca of Pseudo-Apollodorus , is a compendium of Greek myths and heroic legends , genealogical tables and histories arranged in three books, generally dated to the first or second century AD. The author
434-534: The Teleboans. When Amphitryon finally returned to Thebes, Alcmene told him that he had come the night before and slept with her; he learned from Tiresias what Zeus had done. In Homer 's Iliad , when Alcmene was about to give birth to Heracles, Zeus announced to all the gods that on that day a child by Zeus himself would be born and rule all those around him. Hera , after requesting Zeus to swear an oath to that effect, descended from Olympus to Argos and made
465-477: The Thebans) to hinder Alcmene's delivery of Heracles. The witches were successful in preventing the birth until Historis , daughter of Tiresias, thought of a trick to deceive the witches. Like Galanthis, Historis announced that Alcmene had delivered her child; having been deceived, the witches went away, allowing Alcmene to give birth. In contrast to the depictions of a difficult labor above, an alternative version
496-491: The birth of Heracles in favor of Eurystheus , and was changed into a weasel or cat as punishment for being so insolent as to deceive the goddesses of birth that were acting on Hera's behalf. In the version followed by Ovid in Metamorphoses , Galanthis was the red-gold haired servant of Alcmene , who assisted her during the birth of Heracles . When Alcmene was in labor, she was having difficulty giving birth to
527-432: The book by conflating two manuscript summaries of the text, which included the lost section. The Bibliotheca has been referenced in scholarship throughout history. As a mythographical work It has influenced scholarship on Greek Mythology. An epigram recorded by the important intellectual Patriarch Photius I of Constantinople expressed its purpose: It has the following not ungraceful epigram: 'Draw your knowledge of
558-421: The creation of the Bibliotheca are also studied in the modern scholarship. The question of authorship is another area of study that has shaped the interpretation of the work throughout history. Galanthis In Greek mythology , Galanthis or Galinthias ( Ancient Greek : Γαλανθίς/Γαλινθιάς , romanized : Galanthís/Galinthiás ) was the woman who interfered with Hera 's plan to hinder
589-511: The daughter of Amphiaraus and Eriphyle . Hesiod describes Alcmene as the tallest, most beautiful woman with wisdom surpassed by no person born of mortal parents. It is said that her face and dark eyes were as charming as Aphrodite 's, and that she honoured her husband like no woman before her. According to the Bibliotheca , Alcmene went with Amphitryon to Thebes , where he was purified by Creon for accidentally killing Electryon . Alcmene refused to marry Amphitryon until he had avenged
620-550: The death of her brothers. During Amphitryon's expedition against the Taphians and Teleboans , when Zeus desired to sleep with Alcmene, he made one night last longer extending it to three, by ordering Helios , the sun god , not to rise for three whole days. He then visited Alcmene disguised as Amphitryon. Zeus persuaded Alcmene that he was her husband. Thus Zeus slept with Alcmene, his great-granddaughter, thereby conceiving Heracles , while recounting Amphitryon's victories against
651-446: The fact that a mortal was able to deceive them, changed Galinthias into a weasel, an animal that in ancient times was believed to conceive through the ear and give birth through the mouth via the curse of the scorned deities. Hecate , however, took pity on Galanthis and took her in as one of her Familiars , making the weasel one of her own sacred animals. When Heracles grew up, he built a sanctuary to Galinthias and sacrificed to her;
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#1732791895149682-734: The god in Delphi gave the Heracleidae an oracle that it was better to bury Alcmene in Megara. In the second account given by the Thebans, when Alcmene died, she was turned from human form to a stone. Pausanias indicated that an altar to Alcmene had been built in the Cynosarges in Athens, alongside altars to Heracles, Hebe , and Iolaus . Pausanias also said that Alcmene's tomb is located near
713-436: The goddess that the baby was born; this so startled her that she jumped up and unclasped her hands. This freed Alcmene, and she was able to give birth. Galanthis laughed and ridiculed Lucina, and as a punishment was turned into a weasel or cat. She continued to live with Alcmene after her transformation, thus initiating the practice of weasels being kept as household animals. The account of Antoninus Liberalis makes Galinthias
744-403: The past from me and read the ancient tales of learned lore . Look neither at the page of Homer , nor of elegy , nor tragic muse , nor epic strain . Seek not the vaunted verse of the cycle ; but look in me and you will find in me all that the world contains'. Photius is one of the first surviving reviews of the use of the Bibliotheca in the field. Throughout the 12th and 13th centuries BCE,
775-652: The practice of honouring Galinthias in Thebes lasted down to late times. The myth of Galanthis is also briefly mentioned by Pausanias : he recounts the Theban version of the story, which referred to the heroine as Historis , called her a daughter of Tiresias , and made no mention of her transformation. In this version, she deceived the female agents of Hera known as the Pharmacides ("Herbalists" or "Sorceresses") who had been keeping Alcmene from giving birth, by announcing
806-403: The time. For chronological reasons, Apollodorus of Athens could not have written the book, the author of the Bibliotheca is at times referred to as the "Pseudo-Apollodorus", to distinguish him from Apollodorus of Athens. Modern works often simply call him "Apollodorus". The form of the text that has survived is generally placed in late 1st or second century BCE. The first mention of the work
837-483: The wife of Sthenelus (son of Perseus) give birth to Eurystheus after only seven months, while at the same time preventing Alcmene from delivering Heracles. This resulted in the fulfillment of Zeus's oath in that it was Eurystheus rather than Heracles. According to Ovid 's Metamorphoses , while in labour, Alcmene was having great difficulty giving birth to such a large child. After seven days and nights of agony, Alcmene stretched out her arms and called upon Lucina ,
868-711: Was apotheosised , Hyllus , having pursued and killed Eurystheus , cut off Eurystheus' head and gave it to Alcmene, who gouged out the eyes with weaving pins. In Metamorphoses , an aging Alcmene recounted the story of the birth of Heracles to Iole . There are two accounts of Alcmene's death. In the first, according to the Megarians, Alcmene was walking from Argos to Thebes when she died at Megara . The Heracleidae fell into disagreement about where to take Alcmene's body, with some wishing to take her corpse back to Argos, and others wishing to take it to Thebes to be buried with Amphitryon and Heracles' children by Megara . However,
899-487: Was Juno's doing. To put an end to her mistress's suffering, she announced that Alcmene had safely delivered her child, which surprised Lucina so much that she immediately jumped up and unclenched her hands. As soon as Lucina leapt up, Alcmene was released from her spell, and gave birth to Heracles. As punishment for deceiving Lucina, Galanthis was transformed into a weasel ; she continued to live with Alcmene. In Pausanias' recounting, Hera sent witches (as they were called by
930-547: Was published in Rome in 1555. Benedetto Egio (Benedictus Aegius) of Spoleto , was the first to divide the text in three books. Hieronymus Commelinus [ fr ] published an improved text at Heidelberg , 1559. The first text based on comparative manuscripts was that of Christian Gottlob Heyne , Göttingen , 1782–83. Subsequent editions Jurgen Muller (1841) and Richard Wagner (1894) collated earlier manuscripts. In 1921 Sir James George Frazer published an epitome of
961-563: Was traditionally thought to be Apollodorus of Athens , but that attribution is now considered to be pseudepigraphic. As a result, " Pseudo- " has been affixed to Apollodorus . The Bibliotheca of Pseudo-Apollodorus is a compressive collection of myths, genealogies and histories that presents a continuous history of Greek mythology from the Theogony to the death of Odysseus . The narratives are organized by genealogy, chronology and geography in summaries of myth. The myths are sourced from