Papposilenus bearing the orphan Dionysus
The common story, which makes Dionysus a son of Semele by Zeus, runs as follows : Hera, jealous of Semele, visited her in the disguise of a friend, or an old woman, and persuaded her to request Zeus to appear to her in the same glory and majesty in which he was accustomed to approach his own wife Hera. When all entreaties to desist from this request were fruitless, Zeus appeared to her in thunder and lightning. Semele was terrified and overpowered by the sight, and being seized by the fire, she gave premature birth to a child. Zeus saved the child from the flames: he was sewed up in the thigh of Zeus and, after some time, Hermes brought Dionysus in a wild region and entrusted the young orphan to Silenus. The old satyr and the Nymphs were his tutors until he come to the maturity.
Roman marble copy from an original Greek sculpture.
Original sculpture attributed to Lysippus, ca. 310 – 300 BC
Munich, Glyptothek
Hermes and Dionysos www.flickr.com/photos/69716881@N02/7118139781/
Papposilenus bearing the orphan Dionysus
The common story, which makes Dionysus a son of Semele by Zeus, runs as follows : Hera, jealous of Semele, visited her in the disguise of a friend, or an old woman, and persuaded her to request Zeus to appear to her in the same glory and majesty in which he was accustomed to approach his own wife Hera. When all entreaties to desist from this request were fruitless, Zeus appeared to her in thunder and lightning. Semele was terrified and overpowered by the sight, and being seized by the fire, she gave premature birth to a child. Zeus saved the child from the flames: he was sewed up in the thigh of Zeus and, after some time, Hermes brought Dionysus in a wild region and entrusted the young orphan to Silenus. The old satyr and the Nymphs were his tutors until he come to the maturity.
Roman marble copy from an original Greek sculpture.
Original sculpture attributed to Lysippus, ca. 310 – 300 BC
Munich, Glyptothek
Hermes and Dionysos www.flickr.com/photos/69716881@N02/7118139781/