Alkmene is asteroid #82 and has an estimated size of 61 km in diameter. Alkmene’s orbit is characterized by a semi-major axis of 2.76 Astronomical Units, an eccentricity of 0.23, a period of revolution of 1 674 days, and an inclination of 2.8 degrees. Alkmene was discovered by the German astronomer Karl Theodor Robert Luther as his thirteenth asteroid discovery.

Alkmene is named after Alkmḗnē (Ἀλκμήνη), a lover of Zeus from Greek mythology. The name Alkmḗnē (Ἀλκμήνη) is translated as “the Strong”. Many different variants of the tale of Alkmḗnē (Ἀλκμήνη) know many different ancestors of Alkmḗnē (Ἀλκμήνη). She was the fiancée of Amphitrýōn (Ἀμφιτρύων), whose ancestors also are different in different variants of the tale. Alkmḗnē (Ἀλκμήνη) and Amphitrýōn (Ἀμφιτρύων) were engaged, but not married because Alkmḗnē (Ἀλκμήνη) had brothers, who got slain by rustlers and hadn’t got revenged. So Amphitrýōn (Ἀμφιτρύων) had to go out and revenge her brothers before he could marry Alkmḗnē (Ἀλκμήνη). While Amphitrýōn (Ἀμφιτρύων) was in the battle, Zeus visited Alkmḗnē (Ἀλκμήνη). He either was disguised as Amphitrýōn (Ἀμφιτρύων) or came as golden rain. Only in younger variants of the tale did he ask the Sun (the god Helios) not to shine this day, so that he got more time with Alkmḗnē (Ἀλκμήνη). She was described as tall, but of unrivaled beauty and also the smartest person among all human beings. Bu this latter feature didn’t prevent that she became the mother of a son of Zeus. Amphitrýōn (Ἀμφιτρύων) returned home and had to find out that he got betrayed. He wanted to burn Alkmḗnē (Ἀλκμήνη) on a stake, but Zeus returned as rain and quenched the fire, so rescued her and also proved that Alkmḗnē (Ἀλκμήνη) had got betrayed and so wasn’t guilty of cheating on Amphitrýōn (Ἀμφιτρύων). Alkmḗnē (Ἀλκμήνη) then gave birth to Zeus’ son Herakles (Ἡρακλῆς), after whom the asteroid Heracles is named. Because Hera several times tried to kill Herakles (Ἡρακλῆς) and Alkmḗnē (Ἀλκμήνη) didn’t want to be an enemy of this mighty goddess, so Alkmḗnē (Ἀλκμήνη) soon played no more any role in the life of Herakles (Ἡρακλῆς). Alkmḗnē (Ἀλκμήνη) and Amphitrýōn (Ἀμφιτρύων) both became the parents of a daughter, named Laonome (Λαονόμη), and a son, named Iphiklḗs (Ἰφικλῆς). The latter is known as the twin of Herakles (Ἡρακλῆς) because he was begotten one day later and born either on the same day or also one day later. Both at least were at the same time in their mother’s womb. The kingdom of Amphitrýōn (Ἀμφιτρύων) had to pay tributes to the Minyans, from Ancient Greek Minyes (Μινύες), an autochthonous ethnic group in the Aegean region. To the purpose to end these tributes, Amphitrýōn (Ἀμφιτρύων) and Herakles (Ἡρακλῆς) fought the Minyans in a war, but the king of the Minyans killed Amphitrýōn (Ἀμφιτρύων). Alkmḗnē (Ἀλκμήνη) then married again. Her new husband was Rhadámanthys (Ῥαδάμανθυς), after whom the asteroid Rhadamanthus is named. They together had the sons Gortys and Erythros. Cities in Ancient Greece got named after them and these sons probably exist in Greek mythology only for explaining the names of these cities.

Like I already wrote in my article on the asteroid Heracles, the asteroid Alkmene isn’t relevant except for connecting the asteroids bearing names of other tales. So most prominently Heracles with Rhadamanthus. This indicates the relationship of a stepson with a stepfather and also the relationship of a student with a teacher because Rhadámanthys (Ῥαδάμανθυς) shall have taught archery to Herakles (Ἡρακλῆς). Alkmene represents a mother, who doesn’t care much for her child.