Semele definitions
| Word backwards | elemeS |
|---|---|
| Part of speech | Semele is a proper noun. |
| Syllabic division | Se-me-le |
| Plural | The plural of the word Semele is Semeles. |
| Total letters | 6 |
| Vogais (1) | e |
| Consonants (3) | s,m,l |
Semele was a mortal woman in Greek mythology, known for being the mother of the god Dionysus. She was the daughter of the king of Thebes, Cadmus, and Harmonia, the goddess of harmony and concord.
One of the most well-known myths involving Semele is her affair with Zeus, the king of the gods. Zeus visited Semele in the form of a mortal man and they fell in love. When Hera, Zeus' wife, found out about the affair, she devised a plan to punish Semele.
Zeus and Semele
Under Hera's manipulation, Semele asked Zeus to reveal his true form to her as a sign of his love. Zeus, bound by his promise, revealed himself in his divine form, which was too much for a mortal to bear. The sight of Zeus in all his glory burned Semele to ashes.
Dionysus, God of Wine
However, Semele was pregnant with Zeus' child at the time of her death. Zeus managed to rescue the unborn child, sewed him into his thigh, and carried him to term. This child was Dionysus, the god of wine, fertility, and ecstasy.
Legacy of Semele
Despite her tragic end, Semele's legacy lived on through Dionysus. She became a symbol of the dangers of mortal love with a god, as well as the transformative power of tragedy in the Greek mythological tradition.
Overall, the myth of Semele and Dionysus is a poignant tale of love, betrayal, and the enduring impact of divine lineage on mortal lives.
Semele Examples
- Semele was a mortal woman in Greek mythology who was the mother of Dionysus.
- The opera "Semele" by George Frideric Handel is based on the Greek myth of the same name.
- In astronomy, Semele is the name of a moon of Jupiter.
- The botanist Carl Linnaeus named a genus of flowering plants "Semele" in the 18th century.
- Semele is sometimes used as a feminine given name in modern times.
- The character Semele in the TV series "Supernatural" is a Greek goddess.
- There is a ballet titled "Semele" choreographed by Mark Morris.
- Semele is a popular subject in art, with many paintings depicting her story.
- Several works of literature reference Semele and her tragic fate at the hands of Zeus.
- The name Semele is also associated with beauty and grace in various cultures.