Leto

One of the only interesting myths about Leto involves the story of how she came to give birth to her children Apollo and Artemis. Leto engaged in a relationship with Zeus and had become pregnent. However his wife, Hera, was furious that Zeus had gotten his mistress pregnant, so she devised a plan to take care of Leto. Hera threatened and persuaded every country in the world to refuse refuge to Leto when she was in labor, which essence meant that Leto could not give birth. Furthermore, Hera comanded Eileithyia , the goddess of childbirth, not to assist the pregnant Titan. So while the other goddesses attended to Leto, both Eileithyia and Hera were not in atendence. Meanwhile, one of Leto's problems was solved when the floating island of Ortygia was discovered. Finally, after nine days and nine nights of labor, the goddess bribed Eileithyia into helping Leto deliver her children. And so the gods Apollo and Artemis were born. In recognition for its role in providing shelter for Leto, the floating island of Ortygia was fixed with columns into a permanent location, and called Delos in honor of the divine beings born there in some versions of the myth.

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