Alcmene:A mortal woman who is best known as the mother of Hercules/Herakles. This Argolid queen had
Alcmene:A mortal woman who is best known as the mother of Hercules/Herakles. This Argolid queen had the misfortune to attract Zeus’s attention. Alcmene was reknowned for her devotion to her husband, so the father of the gods assumed his form to seduce her. She only discovered the deception when her husband returned the following night.Hera, angry at Zeus, once more took it out on the mortal woman. She sent Illythia, goddess of childbirth, to delay the birth. This ensured that another child fulfilled the prophecy that Zeus’s child would rule all around him. It also caused Alcmene to suffer during an extended birth. The charm was broken by Alcmene’s maid Galanthis, who was punished by being transformed into a weasel.This commission is part of a series featuring the mothers of Greek mythological heroes. If you’d like to buy prints, they are available at my etsy store, linked in the header of this Tumblr. -- source link
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