Ilithyia

Ilithyia in Greek and Roman mythology, is the goddess of birth, the daughter of Jupiter and Juno, born on Crete, in the Amnisian cave, and sister of Hebe, Mar, and Vulcan. Homer speaks of a number of Ilithyiae, daughters of Juno, who send the arrow of pain, but help those in childbed. Often Ilithyia is identified with Juno, which is not strange, since Juno is the goddess of marriage. The Greek Ilithyia was also identified with Diana, probably because the latter, being the goddess of the moon, a certain influence over birth might be credited her. She is also called Lucina, or genetalis. Pindar and Ovid make her the daughter of Juno. In a Grecian temple erected to her she was represented as wearing a loose robe, and holding in one hand a flambeau.