In the center of the Cyclades lay Delos. When all the lands of earth refused her (Leto), fearing the wrath of Hera, Delos took her in. Upon finding haven on Delos, Leto was wracked for nine days and nine nights with pangs beyond wont. Though goddesses and Titanesses stood by her, jealous Hera detained her daughter Eileithyia on Olympos. The goddesses sent Iris, the messenger goddess, to secretly talk to Eileithyia and bring her to Delos. Iris moved the heart of Eileithyia and they left Olympos together, like shy wild-doves in their going.

As soon as Eileithyia, goddess of sore travail, set foot on Delos, the pain of birth seized Leto and she longed to bring forth; so she cast her arms about a date palm tree and kneeled in the soft meadow while the earth laughed for joy beneath. Then the child leapt forth to the light, and all the goddesses raised a cry. The earth laughed and the sea rejoiced. Straightaway, great Phoebus, the goddesses washed you purely and cleanly with sweet water and swathed you in a white garment of fine texture, new- woven, and fastened a golden band about you.

Now Leto did not give Apollo, bearer of the golden blade, her breast; but Themis duly poured nectar and ambrosia with her divine hands: and Leto was glad because she had borne a strong son and archer. But as soon as you tasted that divine heavenly food, O Phoebus, you could no longer then be held by golden cords nor confined with bands, but all their ends undone. Forth-with Phoebus Apollo spoke out among the deathless goddesses:

“The lyre and the curved bow shall ever be dear to me, and I will declare to men the unfailing will of Zeus.” (24)

Artemis too sprang forth. Over the shadowy hills and windy peaks she draws her golden bow, rejoicing in the chase, and sends out grievous shafts. The tops of the high mountains tremble and the tangled wood echoes awesomely with the outcry of beasts: earthquakes and the sea also where fishes shoal. (25)

24 Hesiod, “Homeric Hymn to Delian Apollo,” in The Homeric Hymns and Homerica.

25 Hesiod, “Homeric Hymn to Delian Artemis,” in The Homeric Hymns and Homerica.