Description
Antique illustration of According to Greek mythology, Alcmene (or Alcmena) was the wife of Amphitryon, the tallest, most beautiful and wise woman ever. According to the legend while her husband was at war, Zeus visited her disguised as Amphitryon and they conceived Heracles. In the picture: Alcmene at the window, a man with a ladder (Zeus?) and a third person (Eileithyia?), depicted as pregnant and holding a forceps. Likely it's a legendary episode: while in labour, Alcmene was really struggling to give birth to Heracles and called upon the goddess of childbirth Lucina (or Eileithyia in Greek).