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  Eileithyia Cave Shown within Greece | |
| Alternative name | Cave of Eileithyia |
|---|---|
| Location | Crete |
| Region | Greece |
| Coordinates | 35°19′29.2″N25°12′21″E / 35.324778°N 25.20583°E /35.324778; 25.20583 |
| History | |
| Periods | Neolithic,Bronze Age |
Eileithyia Cave (also the Cave of Eileithyia) was asacred cave dedicated to the goddess of childbirth,Eileithyia, on the island ofCrete. The site was used from theNeolithic to theRoman era, with worship flourishing in theLate Minoan period.[1] It is located one kilometre (0.6 mi) south of the town ofAmnisos.
It has been suggested that rock formations within the cave resemble female figures, most prominently astalagmite in the centre that appears as a standing female.[1]
Eileithyia Cave was occupied by prehistoric human settlers from theNeolithic period until around 400 BCE. Thearchaeological discoveries made in the cave are on display at theIraklion Museum and theArchaeological Museum of Iraklion. Pottery ranging from the Neolithic to Roman periods has been discovered in the cave, with the most significant number of finds coming from the Minoan era.[1] Fouranthropomorphic vases from theOrientalizing period, which could be ofGreek origin were found in the sanctuary.[2] They are similar toEgyptian vases that showIsis nursing her infant sonHorus. The sanctuary is the largest collection of Egyptian and Egyptianizing artifacts onCrete.[2]
The cave was discovered by Christoforos Anerrapsis ofCandia.[3]
The Eileithyia Cave was revered in ancient Greek mythology as the birthplace and principal sanctuary ofEileithyia, goddess of childbirth and midwifery, a goddess already known in Mycenaean times as E-re-u-ti-ja.[4]
The cave is mentioned inOdysseus's Cretan tale toPenelope in theOdyssey. Disguised and hiding his identity, he invents a story in which he once gave hospitality toOdysseus atAmnisos, “where there is a cave of Eileithyia” (he pretends to have met and hosted himself as part of the false story).”[5]
TheHomeric Hymn to Delian Apollo recounts that a jealousHera detained Eileithyia onCrete for nine days and nights, preventing her from reachingDelos until Iris finally fetched her. Only then couldLeto give birth toApollo andArtemis, establishing the cave as Eileithyia’s primary Cretan home and the source of her panhellenic power to hasten or delay labor.[6]
Pausanias, writing in the 2nd century CE, confirms that Greeks of his day still identified the cave atAmnisos as the actual dwelling place of Eileithyia.[7]
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