Alkmene
Mortal woman
In Greek mythology, Alcmene ( alk-MEE-nee; Attic Greek: Ἀλκμήνη, romanized: Alkmḗnē) or Alcmena ( alk-MEE-nə; Doric Greek: Ἀλκμάνα, romanized: Alkmána; Latin: Alcumena; meaning "strong in wrath") was the wife of Amphitryon, by whom she bore two children, Iphicles and Laonome. She is best known as the mother of Heracles, whose father was the god Zeus.
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Mentions in the Iliad
A. T. Murray, Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, 1924 · Homer, Iliad with an English Translation · CC BY-SA 3.0 US
“who bare Perseus, pre-eminent above all warriors; nor of the daughter of far-famed Phoenix, that bare me Minos and godlike Rhadamanthys; nor of Semele, nor of Alcmene in Thebes, and she brought forth Heracles, her son stout of heart,”
“Aye, and on a time she blinded Zeus, albeit men say that he is the greatest among men and gods; yet even him Hera, that was but a woman, beguiled in her craftiness on the day when Alcmene in fair-crowned Thebe was to bring forth the mighty Heracles.”
“and swiftly came to Achaean Argos, where she knew was the stately wife of Sthenelus, son of Perseus, that bare a son in her womb, and lo, the seventh month was come. This child Hera brought forth to the light even before the full tale of the months, but stayed Alcmene's bearing, and held back the Eileithyiae.”
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Connections
Beloved · Sources
Алкмена — возлюбленная Зевса: прямо подтверждено словами Зевса в Илиаде; связь не обозначена как супружество.
Homer, Iliad 14, trans. A. T. Murray (Theoi Classical Texts Library) · Iliad 14.323–324who bare Perseus, pre-eminent above all warriors; nor of the daughter of far-famed Phoenix, that bare me Minos and godlike Rhadamanthys; nor of Semele, nor of Alcmene in Thebes, and she brought forth Heracles, her son stout of heart,
Il. 14.323–324
Husband · Sources
Описание прямо называет Амфитриона мужем Алкмены; сохранённая запись словаря подтверждает брак (в «Илиаде» Алкмена рядом с Амфитрионом не названа).
Perseus: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography, Heracles · Perseus, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography, «Heracles»
Son · Sources
who bare Perseus, pre-eminent above all warriors; nor of the daughter of far-famed Phoenix, that bare me Minos and godlike Rhadamanthys; nor of Semele, nor of Alcmene in Thebes, and she brought forth Heracles, her son stout of heart,
Il. 14.324
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In art
Giacomo Brogi. The Infant Hercules Strangling the Snakes. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q115198779
Giacomo Brogi. The Infant Hercules Strangling the Snakes. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q115198779
Asteas. Krater of the madness of Heracles. National Museum of Archaeology. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8352078
Asteas. Krater of the madness of Heracles. National Museum of Archaeology. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8352078
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Sources and verification
The character is matched to the catalogue.
- Wikipedia · Alcmene · CC BY-SA 4.0
Excerpt; remaining sentences omitted.
Reference material remains distinct from the poem’s assertions. Characters who share a name retain separate pages.