Alcmene

In Greek mythology, Alcmene or Alcmena (Greek: polytonic|Aλκμήνη) was the mother of Heracles.

Background

Alcmene was born to Electryon, king of Mycenae and a son of Perseus.Apollodorus, "Library" 2.4.5 [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Apollod.+2.4.5 (text)] ] Her mother was either Anaxo, daughter of Alcaeus and Astydamia, or Lysidice, daughter of Pelops and Hippodameia.Plutarch, "Lives" Theseus 7.1 [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Plut.+Thes.+7.1 (text)] ] 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.Hesiod, "The Shield of Heracles" 1ff. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Hes.+Sh.+1 (text)] ]

Exile to Thebes

According to Apollodorus, 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 the death of her brothers.Apollodorus, "Library" 2.4.6 [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Apollod.+2.4.6 (text)] ] However, during Amphitryon's expedition against the Taphians and Teleboans,Apollodorus, "Library" 2.4.7 [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Apollod.+2.4.7 (text)] ] Zeus visited Alcmene disguised as Amphitryon. Extending one night into three, Zeus slept with Alcmene (thereby conceiving Heracles) and recounted Amphitryon's victories against 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.Apollodorus, "Library" 2.4.8 [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Apollod.+2.4.8 (text)] ]

Birth of Heracles

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, descended from Zeus himself, would be born who would rule all those around him. Hera, after requesting Zeus to swear an oath to that effect, descended from Olympus to Argos and made the wife of Sthenelus (a 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 by Eurystheus rather than Heracles.Homer, "Iliad" 19.95ff. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Hom.+Il.+19.95 (text)] ]

According to Ovid's "Metamorphoses", while in labour, Alcmene was having difficulty giving birth to such a large child. After seven days and nights in agony, Alcmene stretched out her arms and called upon Lucina, the goddess of childbirth (the Roman equivalent of Eileithyia). However, while Lucina did go to Alcmene, she was instructed by Juno (Hera) to stop the delivery. With her hands clasped and legs crossed, Lucina muttered charms, thereby preventing Alcmene from giving birth. Alcmene struggled in pain, cursed the heavens, and became close to death. Galanthis, a maid of Alcmene who was nearby, observed Lucina's actions and quickly deduced Juno's plans. She announced that Alcmene had safely delivered her child, and this 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.Ovid, "Metamorphoses" 9.273ff. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Ov.+Met.+9.273 (text)] ]

In 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 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.Pausanias, "Description of Greece" 9.11.3 [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Paus.+9.11.3 (text)] ]

In contrast to the depictions of difficult labor above, an alternative version 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 babies arrive without anyone's assistance. [Plautus, "Amphitryon" 1094 [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0092&layout=&loc=1053 (text)] ]

Death

After the death of Amphitryon, Alcmene married Rhadamanthys, son of Zeus, and lived with him in exile at Ocaleae in Boeotia.Apollodorus, "Library" 2.4.11 [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Apollod.+2.4.11 (text)] ] It is said that after Heracles 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.Apollodorus, "Library" 2.8.1 [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Apollod.+2.8.1 (text)] ] In Metamorphoses, an aging Alcmene recounted the story of the birth of Heracles to Iole.

There are two accounts of Alcmene's death. 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, the god in Delphi gave the Heracleidae an oracle that it was better to bury Alcmene in Megara.Pausanias, "Description of Greece" 1.41.1 [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Paus.+1.41.1 (text)] ] In the second account given by the Thebans, when Alcmene died, she was turned from human form to a stone.Pausanias, "Description of Greece" 9.16.7 [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Paus.+9.16.7 (text)] ]

Pausanias indicated that an altar to Alcmene had been build in the Cynosarges in Athens, alongside altars to Heracles, Hebe, and Iolaus.Pausanias, "Description of Greece" 1.19.3 [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Paus.+1.19.3 (text)] ] Pausanias also said that Alcmene's tomb is located near the Olympieum at Megara.

References