The Birth of Dionysus

Father Zeus fell in love with His daughter Persephone and amorously pursued Her. The affair continued for several years before Hera became suspicious of Her husband's actions. She would often ask Him why he ventured to the Underworld so often. The dank dark depths of that place were hardly suitable for His shinning brilliance. Zeus answered saying things like He was visiting Hades or He was tending to the shades in Elysium. None of these answers seemed to add up so Hera followed Her heavenly husband one day. 

In the disguise of an old matron Hera trailed Zeus into the Underworld. The dismal souls left on the shores of the Styx discomforted Her greatly. Eventually She followed Zeus all the way up to the Palace of Hades. The great black spires rose up from the rocky landscape like nails ran through a thin board. Hera watched as Zeus sneaked to the courtyard where Persephone kept Her orchards. Very carefully Hera hid Herself behind a pillar and just watched. At first nothing seemed to be amiss. Zeus was just standing their admiring the delicate blooms that gave Persephone comfort in Her martial prison. Then suddenly Persephone appeared garbed in a pink gown. The two then lied together and Persephone conceived. Hera was furious over this but She knew She could not openly contest Zeus's actions or punish Persephone for giving in to His advances. Instead Hera swore to seek vengeance upon the product of Their secret union. 

In the following spring just before Persephone left to rejoin Her mother on earth the Goddess gave birth. The child came out easily and with a brilliant glow. He carried on his head two small horns and a crown of serpents. The smell of fresh pine permeated the air around Him. Persephone named Her child Zagreus or Great Hunter. Zagreus instantly became the pride of Olympus but to conceal His true parentage Persephone claimed that the child was of Hades and no other. 

All the Gods gave Him various gifts to mark His birth. Zeus even named the child heir of Olympus and sat Him upon the throne garbed in royal attire. This greatly angered Hera. Not only had the child been a product of one of Zeus's affairs but now He was lined up to rule over Her and the rest of the Gods. But She had a plan and would soon commence it. 

She stole away once again to the Palace of Hades but this time to visit Her dark brother. She told Him about Persephone and Zeus's treachery and how the child Zagreus was not His. This angered the usually cold and solemn Hades. He asked Hera what She would have Him do. Hera replied asking Her brother for the keys to Tartarus that way She might free the Titans to slay Zagreus. Hades gladly gave Her the keys and off She went. Once the Titans were properly motivated Hera sent them after the child Zagreus. They lured Him off the throne with a rattle and wooden bull. After that the Titans pounced upon the child and devoured His flesh. In the end all but Zagreus's heart was destroyed. 

This event filled Zeus with a rage never before seen in the Cosmos. He grabbed His lightning bolts and dawned His golden armor before chasing down the murderous Titans. He then with the help of Athena and Hermes slew them all in the most painful heinous of ways. Once the battle ended Athena took the heart and gave it back to Her father. He hid it away in His thigh for many years. From the ashes of this great battle Prometheus crafted the first humans. They would have in them the divinity of Zagreus the purest of Gods and the barbarism of the cruel Titans.

Zeus began to court the Princess Semele of Thebes late in the winter and in her He planted the heart of Zagreus. The earth was still frozen and the nights long but the warmth of the divine child growing inside her gave Semele a certain cheer in those dreary months. Eventually the snow receded and Apollo returned from His Ethiopian abode to warm the land once more. Semele left the palace to go meet her love in the mountain groves surrounding Thebes. She walked through the pine woods listening to the songs of the birds and the chatter of the squirrels. Once she reached her destination Zeus came down to her in the form of a dazzling youth with sharp blue eyes and near silver hair. The two laid together surrounded by the sounds and smells of the awakening earth. Little did the two know that Hera sat nearby watching and scheming. The Goddess decided to avenge Her honor by punishing Semele and the product of her womb in one fatal stroke.

The next day Hera disguised Herself as Berenice Semele's most trusted friend. Hera went to Semele and asked her why she was so happy even through the darkest of winter. Semele's heart was so full of joy and love that she had to tell someone about her immortal lover. Semele told Hera everything that had transpired since Zeus first took interest in her. She even told her that she believed she was pregnant. It was this minor confirmation that gave Hera the sign to continue with Her plan. Hera skeptically refuted what Semele said. She told Semele that if Zeus was truly her lover than she should ask Him to give her a sign. Distraught Semele left that palace in search of Zeus. 

In the woods Zeus went to her. He did his best to comfort the princess but nothing seemed to work. Because of this Zeus made a fateful vow. He promised by the Styx that He would give anything to Semele that she asked of Him. This finally stopped Semele's sorrow.

Later that night Hera went to Semele in her dreams. The Goddess planted more seeds of doubt in the princess's heart. Semele jolted up and ran to Berenice's room but before she got there Hera possessed the servant. Semele asked Berenice what she should do to prove that her lover truly was Zeus. Hera told her to do as her dreams advised and ask to see His true form. Eventually Semele relented to the idea and decided to seek Zeus out the next day. 

She found her lover sitting on a rock near the top of a stony hill. She went to Him and reminded Him of His vow. Then she asked Him to reveal His true form to Her and squelch any doubt that lived in her heart. Zeus knowing that this would cause the death of His beloved Semele begged her to choose something else. Sadly Semele refused and kept pushing the matter. Zeus could not resist her anymore and took off His fleshy disguise. The brightness and heat that radiated off from Father Zeus scorched Semele's body. Zeus managed to save His unborn child from Semele's womb before her death.

Zeus gave the child to Hermes and ordered Him to carry it off to Naxos far beyond the reach of Hera where Selinous could raise the boy in peace. Hermes did as ordered. The child was called Dionysus and He grew up to be a handsome young boy. The nymphs who cared for Him as a child soon found themselves infatuated by His beauty and charm. Dionysus grew up in the tutelage of the satyrs nymphs and of course old Selinous. Eventually the young god would discover wine and leave Naxos in search of His identity and origins but those are stories for another time.