SEMELE The mother of Dionysos, she incurred the wrath of Hera, who, on discovering that her husband Zeus was the father of the baby, visited Semele indisguise, and after winning her trust, advised her to get Zeus to swear to appear to her in allhis majesty as thunder god. When Semele did this, Zeus had no choice but to agree to herrequest, as he had sworn 'by the black waters of the Styx'---one of the most solemn oaths man or god could swear---to grant her wish, before hearing what it was. Therefore he appeared to her as a thunderstorm, resplendent with lightning and loud crashing, whichunfortunately was the death of Semele.