Eileithyia

Eileithyia is a goddess from the Greek mythological pantheon.

Description
Although there is little information available on Eileithyia, it is generally agreed that she was born to Zeus and Hera on the outskirts of Knossos. Her purview being the goddess of childbirth and midwifery, she had the power to either hasten or delay the birth of a child at will. Known to possess a large mortal cult across the Pan-Hellenic world, even the Olympian gods requested her services on occasion.

One second century tale of Eileithyia tells of a time when the Elian people were threatened by an army from Arcadia. Eileithyia strode between the two forces and placed a child who had been fed solely on honeyed barley-cakes on the ground. The child quickly transformed into a great serpent, causing the Arcadians to flee and saving the beleaguered Elians. The serpent then disappeared off into the nearby hills.