Semele is Dionysus’ mortal mother, the daughter of Cadmus, and the sister of Agave, Ino, and Autonoe. Semele was killed accidentally by her lover, the supreme god Zeus, when he took on the form of a lightning storm. Though she never appears on the stage, she is a major reason for Dionysus’ presence in Thebes. Since her death, rumors spread that her lover was a mortal, and that she had invented the Zeus to protect her dignity. Dionysus has come to prove his godliness and thereby restore honor to his mother’s name.