Galinthias

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Galinthias ( Greek  Γαλινθιάς ), in Ovid also Galanthis ( Γαλανθίς ), was the maid of Alcmene in Greek mythology , who had become particularly dear to him because of her willingness to serve. When the tormenting, painful contractions of Alcmene, who was pregnant with Heracles , had lasted for seven days and seven nights, the goddess of birth Eileithyia, however, was only crouching on the altar in front of the door, clutching her knees with folded arms and thus delaying the birth, Galinthias suspected, that Hera probably caused this trouble out of jealousy. So she resorted to a ruse and said to Eileithyia, whoever she was, to wish the landlady luck, because she had just given birth to a boy.

Eileithyia immediately jumped up in surprise and let her crossed arms drop in horror, breaking the spell and successfully delivering Alkmene . Galinthias is said to have laughed at Eileithyia because of the deception. Galinthias then grabbed it, pressed it to the ground and transformed it into a weasel or an Ichneumon ( γαλῆ ). Not enough of this she determined that Galinthias, since she had helped the woman giving birth with her lying mouth, should give birth to her own children through her in the future.

However, Hecate took pity on Galinthias and made her their holy servant.

Herakles later remembered her kindness to his mother, put Galinthias' picture next to his house and offered him sacrifices. The Thebans saw this, which led to Galinthias being offered first at the feast of Heracles.

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