What is the plot of Semele?

Jupiter, King of the gods, takes the mortal Princess Semele to a secret hiding place on a mountain to be his mistress. When Jupiter’s wife, Juno, hears of her husband’s adultery she is enraged, and plots to ensure Semele’s downfall.

When was Semele composed?

1743Semele / Written

How long is Semele?

The running time is approximately 3 hours including one 20-minute intermission.

How did Zeus meet Semele?

Flying over the scene in the guise of an eagle, Zeus fell in love with Semele and repeatedly visited her secretly. Zeus’ wife, Hera, a goddess jealous of usurpers, discovered his affair with Semele when she later became pregnant.

How did Hera get revenge on Semele?

She was the only mortal to become the parent of a god. Zeus fell in love with Semele while watching her sacrifice a bull on his altar and visited her many times afterwards. When Semele became pregnant, Hera found out and jealous of her husband’s affair, set out a plan to punish Semele.

How did Hera trick Semele?

Thyone’s mortal name was Semele. She was a Theban princess loved by the god Zeus. When his wife Hera learned of their affair, she tricked the girl into having Zeus swear an oath to appear before her in his full glory. Bound by his pledge the god did so and Semele was consumed by the fire of his lightning-bolts.

What happened to Arachne at the end of the story?

Enraged at the perfection of her rival’s work (or, alternatively, offended by its subject matter), Athena tore it to pieces, and in despair Arachne hanged herself.

How did Semele get pregnant?

Seduction by Zeus and birth of Dionysus Flying over the scene in the guise of an eagle, Zeus fell in love with Semele and repeatedly visited her secretly. Zeus’ wife, Hera, a goddess jealous of usurpers, discovered his affair with Semele when she later became pregnant.

What happened to Zeus’s former mistress Semele?

After thousands of years, Greek mythology had progressed toward a more positive outlook and Zeus’s former mistress was able to spend the rest of time in the company of the son she had never been able to meet. Semele, the daughter of Harmonia and Cadmus, was a priestess of Zeus in Thebes.

How did Zeus and Semele get along?

Hera, his wife, didn’t like Zeus’s many affairs and found out about this one and plotted revenge against Semele and her unborn child. Semele was rather niave and when Hera came to visit as an old women she let her in and they just got along like old friends exchanging stories.

What does Semele mean in Greek mythology?

Semele, also called Thyone, in Greek mythology, a daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia, at Thebes, and mother of Dionysus (Bacchus) by Zeus. Semele’s liaison with Zeus enraged Zeus’s wife, Hera, who, disguised as an old nurse, coaxed Semele into asking Zeus to visit her in the same splendour in which he would appear before Hera.

How did Semele make Zeus prove he was not an imposter?

Semele was in heaven with the way things were going with Zeus and Hera was aware that Semele wasn’t the brightest light around so she told Semele how to make Zeus prove he was a God to her and not just an imposter. Well Semele had to find out if Zeus was telling her the truth so she seduced him and made him promise her anything she asked of him.