Antiquae PrecesAntiquae Preces
ENRU
Greek

Prayers to Eileithyia

6 prayers

Eileithyia is invoked at one moment only, and the prayers are correspondingly narrow: let the birth be quick, let the mother live. Callimachus' epigram is a vow paid after a delivery that went well; the Orphic hymn asks her to loosen what she alone can loosen.

Fontes · Sources
  • Anonymous (Orphic corpus) · Orphic Hymns1
  • Aristophanes · Lysistrata1
  • Callimachus · Epigrams (Greek Anthology 6.146)1
  • Callimachus · Hymns1
  • Ovid · Amores1
  • Pindar · Nemean Odes1
In the sources
Eileithyia · Ilithyia
The name as each source prints it.
Orationes · The texts
  1. 001

    Prayer to Demeter

    Callimachus · Hymns · 6.1-21; 117-138

    As the Basket comes, greet it, ye women, saying 'Demeter, greatly hail! Lady of much bounty, of many measures of corn.' As the Basket comes, from the ground shall ye behold it, ye uninitiated, and gaze not from the roof or from aloft — child nor wife nor maid hath shed her hair — neither then nor when we spit from parched mouths fasting. Hesperos from the clouds marks the time of its coming: Hesperos, who alone persuaded Demeter to drink, what time she pursued the unknown tracks of her stolen daughter. Lady, how were thy feet able to carry thee unto the West, unto the Melanoi and where the golden apples are? Thou didst not drink nor didst thou eat during that time nor didst thou wash. Thrice didst thou cross Akheloios with his silver eddies, and as often didst thou pass over each of the ever-flowing rivers, and thrice didst thou seat thee on the ground beside the fountain Kallikhoros, parched and without drinking, and didst not eat nor wash. Nay, nay, let us not speak of that which brought the tear to Deo! Better to tell how she gave cities pleasing ordinances; better to tell how she was the first to cut straw and holy sheaves of corn-ears and put in oxen to tread them, what time Triptolemos was taught the good craft... O Demeter, never may that man be my friend who is hateful to thee, nor ever may he share party-wall with me; ill neighbours I abhor. Sing, ye maidens, and ye mothers, say with them: 'Damater, greatly hail! Lady of much bounty, of many measures of corn.' And as the four white-haired horses convey the Basket, so unto us will the great goddess of wide dominion come bringing white spring and white harvest and winter and autumn, and keep us to another year. And as unsandalled and with hair unbound we walk the city, so shall we have foot and head unharmed for ever. And as the van-bearers bear vans full of gold, so may we get gold unstinted. Far as the City Chambers let the uninitiated follow, but the initiated even unto the very shrine of the goddess — as many as are under sixty years. But she that is heavy and she that stretches her hand to Eileithyia and she that is in pain — sufficient it is that they go so far as their knees are able. And to them Deo shall give all things to overflowing, even as if they came unto her temple. Hail, goddess, and save this people in harmony and in prosperity, and in the fields bring us all pleasant things! Feed our kine, bring us flocks, bring us the corn-ear, bring us harvest! And nurse peace, that he who sows may also reap. Be gracious, O thrice-prayed for, great Queen of goddesses!

    GreekInvocationPetition
  2. 002

    Prayer to Eileithyia

    Pindar · Nemean Odes · 7.1 ff

    Goddess of childbirth, Eileithyia, maid to the throne of the deep-thinking Moirai, child of all-powerful Hera, hear my song. For without thee should we see neither the light of day, nor know the kindly dark, nor win the gift of Hebe, thy sister, the glorious limbs of youth.

    GreekInvocationPraise
  3. 003

    Hymn to Prothyraea

    Anonymous (Orphic corpus) · Orphic Hymns · 2

    O venerable Goddess, hear my prayer, for labour pains are thy peculiar care. In thee, when stretched upon the bed of grief, the sex, as in a mirror, view relief. Guard of the race, endued with gentle mind, to helpless youth benevolent and kind; benignant nourisher; great nature's key belongs to no divinity but thee. Thou dwellest with all immanifest to sight, and solemn festivals are thy delight. Thine is the task to loose the virgin's zone and thou in every work art seen and known. With births you sympathise, though pleased to see the numerous offspring of fertility. When racked with labour pangs, and sore distressed the sex invoke thee, as the soul's sure rest; for thou Eileithyia alone canst give relief to pain, which art attempts to ease, but tries in vain. Artemis Eileithyia, venerable power, who bringest relief in labour's dreadful hour; hear, Prothyraia and make the infant race thy constant care.

    GreekInvocationPetition
  4. 004

    Prayer to Diana and Eileithyia

    Ovid · Amores · 2.13.19-26

    Ilithyia, You who are compassionate towards women in labor, who suffer with great pains in their womb, their bodies strained in slow birth of the hidden child, gently attend to her, Ilithyia, and favor my prayers. She is worthy of Your aid, reward her with life, I will myself, dressed in pure white robes offer frankincense upon Your altar, I will myself carry votive gifts to lay at Your feet. And to Your altar's inscription I shall add, 'By Naso, for Corinna saved.' Act in this manner, and receive the legend inscribed and the gifts in Your sanctuary.

    RomanPetitionDedication
  5. 005

    Prayer to Eileithyia and Athena

    Aristophanes · Lysistrata · 742 ff

    Oh! goddess divine, Eileithyia, patroness of women in labour, stay, stay the birth, till I have reached a spot less hallowed than Athene's mount!

    GreekPetition
  6. 006

    Prayer to Eileithyia

    Callimachus · Epigrams (Greek Anthology 6.146) · 54

    Eileithyia, come thou when Kykainis calls, to bless her pains with easy birth.

    GreekPetition
Invoked alongside
← All gods
← Gods
ENRU
Greek

Prayers to Eileithyia

6 prayers

Eileithyia is invoked at one moment only, and the prayers are correspondingly narrow: let the birth be quick, let the mother live. Callimachus' epigram is a vow paid after a delivery that went well; the Orphic hymn asks her to loosen what she alone can loosen.

Fontes · Sources
  • Anonymous (Orphic corpus) · Orphic Hymns1
  • Aristophanes · Lysistrata1
  • Callimachus · Epigrams (Greek Anthology 6.146)1
  • Callimachus · Hymns1
  • Ovid · Amores1
  • Pindar · Nemean Odes1
In the sources
Eileithyia · Ilithyia
The name as each source prints it.
Orationes · The texts
  1. 001

    Prayer to Demeter

    Callimachus · Hymns · 6.1-21; 117-138

    As the Basket comes, greet it, ye women, saying 'Demeter, greatly hail! Lady of much bounty, of many measures of corn.' As the Basket comes, from the ground shall ye behold it, ye uninitiated, and gaze not from the roof or from aloft — child nor wife nor maid hath shed her hair — neither then nor when we spit from parched mouths fasting. Hesperos from the clouds marks the time of its coming: Hesperos, who alone persuaded Demeter to drink, what time she pursued the unknown tracks of her stolen daughter. Lady, how were thy feet able to carry thee unto the West, unto the Melanoi and where the golden apples are? Thou didst not drink nor didst thou eat during that time nor didst thou wash. Thrice didst thou cross Akheloios with his silver eddies, and as often didst thou pass over each of the ever-flowing rivers, and thrice didst thou seat thee on the ground beside the fountain Kallikhoros, parched and without drinking, and didst not eat nor wash. Nay, nay, let us not speak of that which brought the tear to Deo! Better to tell how she gave cities pleasing ordinances; better to tell how she was the first to cut straw and holy sheaves of corn-ears and put in oxen to tread them, what time Triptolemos was taught the good craft... O Demeter, never may that man be my friend who is hateful to thee, nor ever may he share party-wall with me; ill neighbours I abhor. Sing, ye maidens, and ye mothers, say with them: 'Damater, greatly hail! Lady of much bounty, of many measures of corn.' And as the four white-haired horses convey the Basket, so unto us will the great goddess of wide dominion come bringing white spring and white harvest and winter and autumn, and keep us to another year. And as unsandalled and with hair unbound we walk the city, so shall we have foot and head unharmed for ever. And as the van-bearers bear vans full of gold, so may we get gold unstinted. Far as the City Chambers let the uninitiated follow, but the initiated even unto the very shrine of the goddess — as many as are under sixty years. But she that is heavy and she that stretches her hand to Eileithyia and she that is in pain — sufficient it is that they go so far as their knees are able. And to them Deo shall give all things to overflowing, even as if they came unto her temple. Hail, goddess, and save this people in harmony and in prosperity, and in the fields bring us all pleasant things! Feed our kine, bring us flocks, bring us the corn-ear, bring us harvest! And nurse peace, that he who sows may also reap. Be gracious, O thrice-prayed for, great Queen of goddesses!

  2. 002

    Prayer to Eileithyia

    Pindar · Nemean Odes · 7.1 ff

    Goddess of childbirth, Eileithyia, maid to the throne of the deep-thinking Moirai, child of all-powerful Hera, hear my song. For without thee should we see neither the light of day, nor know the kindly dark, nor win the gift of Hebe, thy sister, the glorious limbs of youth.

  3. 003

    Hymn to Prothyraea

    Anonymous (Orphic corpus) · Orphic Hymns · 2

    O venerable Goddess, hear my prayer, for labour pains are thy peculiar care. In thee, when stretched upon the bed of grief, the sex, as in a mirror, view relief. Guard of the race, endued with gentle mind, to helpless youth benevolent and kind; benignant nourisher; great nature's key belongs to no divinity but thee. Thou dwellest with all immanifest to sight, and solemn festivals are thy delight. Thine is the task to loose the virgin's zone and thou in every work art seen and known. With births you sympathise, though pleased to see the numerous offspring of fertility. When racked with labour pangs, and sore distressed the sex invoke thee, as the soul's sure rest; for thou Eileithyia alone canst give relief to pain, which art attempts to ease, but tries in vain. Artemis Eileithyia, venerable power, who bringest relief in labour's dreadful hour; hear, Prothyraia and make the infant race thy constant care.

  4. 004

    Prayer to Diana and Eileithyia

    Ovid · Amores · 2.13.19-26

    Ilithyia, You who are compassionate towards women in labor, who suffer with great pains in their womb, their bodies strained in slow birth of the hidden child, gently attend to her, Ilithyia, and favor my prayers. She is worthy of Your aid, reward her with life, I will myself, dressed in pure white robes offer frankincense upon Your altar, I will myself carry votive gifts to lay at Your feet. And to Your altar's inscription I shall add, 'By Naso, for Corinna saved.' Act in this manner, and receive the legend inscribed and the gifts in Your sanctuary.

  5. 005

    Prayer to Eileithyia and Athena

    Aristophanes · Lysistrata · 742 ff

    Oh! goddess divine, Eileithyia, patroness of women in labour, stay, stay the birth, till I have reached a spot less hallowed than Athene's mount!

  6. 006

    Prayer to Eileithyia

    Callimachus · Epigrams (Greek Anthology 6.146) · 54

    Eileithyia, come thou when Kykainis calls, to bless her pains with easy birth.

Invoked alongside
← All gods