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Alcmene

Alcmene ("might of the moon") was, in ancient Greek mythology, the daughter of Electryon, king of Mycenae, and wife of Amphitryon. She was the mother of Heracles by Zeus, who assumed the likeness of her husband during his absence, and the mother of Iphicles by Amphitryon. While Alcmene was pregnant with Heracles, Hera tried to prevent her from giving birth. She was foiled by Galanthis, her servant, who told Hera that she had already delivered the baby. Hera turned her into a weasel.

Alcmene was regarded as the ancestress of the Heracleidae, and worshipped at Thebes and Athens.

After separating from Amphitryon, she married Rhadamanthus in Boeotia.


Wikified from 1911 encyclopedia -- Please update as needed

wikipedia.org dumped 2003-03-17 with terodump