but understand that my husband and I were terrified of Hera.
This cost Hercules throne and cost me my health, I mean I was in labor for more than 24 hours!ĪLETHEIA: Oh, honey, that must have been rough but you popped him out nonetheless and what happened after he was born?ĪLCMENE: I'll be honest, we tried to give him up.ĪLCMENE: I know, I know. So, Hera sent her witch friend to postpone my birth. Zeus decided to announce to ALL of Olympias that I was going to give birth to his son Hercules and he made a deal that his son born on this day would rule the kindgdom.
did his wife know?ĪLCMENE: Well, she found out, that's for sure. I was a very good-looking lady if I do say so myself, so it turns out that one night while my husband was away at war Zeus came down from the heavens disguised himself as my husband, acting as if he was back from battle, and, well, you can guess the rest.ĪLETHEIA: Oh my goodness, Alcmene, that there is scandalous! I never knew that. how exactly did you meet Zeus?ĪLCMENE: Well, I being a mortal princess was down on earth, and I had a husband named Amphitryon and together we had two children, but that is beside the point. I mean I met Zeus by happenstance and the next thing you know I am the mother of a demigod.ĪLETHEIA: Hold on.
How does that feel?ĪLCMENE: Well, most days it feels surreal. ALETHEIA: So, Alcmene, you are the mother of Hercules.
