The Cult of Eileithyia and Its Absorptionby the Cult of Artemis

Abstract

The article analyzes the evolution of the image of the goddess Eileithyia. The ancient nature and persistence of her cult areprovedby artifacts found in her sanctuaries, primarily in the Amnis cave. The name of Eileithyia often served as an epithet of Hera, but more often - of Artemis, over time, incorporating the image of Eileithyia as a goddess of childbirth. The process of gradualmerging of the cults of Eileithyia and Artemis can be observed in the development of images of the Hyperborean virginal gift-givers, known from the “History” of Herodotus. Herodotus describes the cult of two pairs of Hyperborean virgins that existed on Delos - Argi and Opis, dedicated to Eileithyia, and Laodika and Hyperoha, servants of Artemis. Over time, the plot transmitted by Herodotus and the names of its participants were transformed. In Callimachus, the virgins associated with Artemis took the placeof servants of Eileithyia. This fact suggests that by the 3rd century BC (and this is also confirmed by documentary sources), the cult of Eileithyia was largely absorbed in the cult of Artemis, which in turn merged with therather young cult of Apollo, rapidly spreading through the Greek world and having northern, “Hyperborean” roots.