Editing Alcmene (section)

===Birth of Heracles===

====Homer====
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 [[Mount Olympus|Olympus]] to [[Argos, Peloponnese|Argos]] and made the wife of [[Sthenelus (son of Andromeda and Perseus)|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.<ref name="Hom. Il. 19.95">[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Hom.+Il.+19.95&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0134:book=:chapter=&highlight=Alcmene 19.95 ff.]</ref>

====Ovid====
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 (goddess)|Lucina]], the [[List of Roman birth and childhood deities|goddess of childbirth]] (the [[Roman mythology|Roman]] equivalent of [[Eileithyia]]). While Lucina did go to Alcmene, she had been previously instructed by [[Juno (mythology)|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 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.<ref name="Ov. Met. 9.273">[[Ovid]], ''[[Metamorphoses]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ov.+Met.+9.273&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0074:book=:chapter=&highlight=Alcmen 9.273 ff.]</ref>

====Pausanias====
In [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias']] recounting, Hera sent witches (as they were called by the Thebans) to hinder Alcmene's delivery of Heracles. The witches were successful in preventing the birth until [[Galanthis|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.<ref name="Paus. 9.11.3">Pausanias, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+9.11.3&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0160:book=:chapter=&highlight=Alcmena 9.11.3]</ref>

====Plautus====
In contrast to the depictions of a difficult labor above, an alternative version is presented in ''[[Amphitryon (Plautus play)|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.<ref>[[Plautus]], ''Amphitryon'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0092 "The Subject"]</ref>