Semele was the daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia, king and
queen of Thebes, and the mother of Dionysus, god of wine. Zeus fell madly
in love with her and made an oath to do anything that she asked.
Hera, the jealous wife of Zeus,realized Zeus was in love with Semele and
tricked Semele into asking Zeus to let her see him in his majesty. Bound
by an oath, Zeus appeared before the unfortunate woman in all his
divine glory. (Morford-Lenardon 187) As she looked at him, she was
consumed by the lightening bolts and light that radiated from him. Zeus
was able to rescue her unborn child, Di…
