Ariadne by Jennifer Saint

Author:Jennifer Saint [Saint, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781472273888
Google: wMz1DwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Headline
Published: 2021-03-29T23:00:00+00:00

19

Ariadne

I waited for Dionysus to say that he would go again; that the world called for him and he would take to the waves and disappear. But he stayed. He did not speak again of his mother at first, but as we fell into a routine of walking together along the beach in the evenings, he broached the subject once more.

‘My mother, Semele, was indeed a mortal woman, but my father was Zeus, god of the thunderbolt and ruler of Mount Olympus. Despite the bitter jealousy of his wife, Hera, my father did not resist the temptations of the beautiful women he saw on the earth beneath him. Although he had the white-armed Hera in all her glory, he would not be satisfied with just one woman – even if she was the queen of all goddesses. And so, when he saw Semele, he did not hesitate to make her his own.’

Of course. A familiar story. But in Dionysus’ mouth, the words hummed with a hidden undercurrent. The gods would take what they wanted, whenever they wanted it. But what did Dionysus want? His face was open and guileless and though I was poised at any moment for what might come next, he only carried on with his tale.

‘Semele was delighted to receive the attentions of this handsome youth. She did not doubt his word when he told her that he was the most powerful of the immortals. And she did not resist when he led her to a secluded cove, away from the prying gaze of his ever-watchful wife. In time, her belly swelled and she boasted of it to all who would listen. When Hera heard of the foolish mortal girl bragging of the divine child she was to bear, she planned her revenge. She visited my mother in the guise of an old crone and cast doubt on her story. ‘Why does Zeus not come to you in the golden glory in which he visits his immortal wife?’ she asked Semele. ‘Make him show you what he truly looks like and then you will know beyond all doubt that you carry his son in your womb . . .’ Dionysus paused.

My stomach twisted in the retelling of this story. I knew of Hera’s spite and the punishments she had wrought upon Zeus’ unfortunate mortal lovers. I knew this must be a trick and I felt Dionysus’ pain in recounting what she had done to his mother.

‘So, Semele went to Zeus and made him swear that he would grant her any wish that she requested. Laughing, he swore that he would – making his oath on the Styx, that mighty river that takes every spirit to the dark shadows of Hades. Powerful and almighty as he is, Zeus was bound by that oath with unbreakable chains. So when Semele spoke her wish aloud – that he would reveal his true, immortal self to her – he knew at once that Hera had found him out and this was to be her revenge.

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