Dionysus

                                                                 Story 1

 Zeus was in love with Semele and granted her a wish at the river Styx, which made the wish absolute. Hera told Semele to see him in his form as a god, and that killed her. Semele was pregnant and Zeus saved the child and sent him to be raised by the nymphs; born of the fire that ripens the grapes and nurses by the rain that keeps the plant alive. 

                                                                Story 2

Once Dionysus had reached manhood he decided to wonder the world. Where ever Dionysus went he taught how to cultivate vines, and of his cult. He was accepted until he returned to Thebes. On his journey back he was spotted by pirates. The pirates captured him and brought him aboard there ship. They tried to tie him to the ship, but the ropes would not tie. Anytime a rope touched him it fell apart. Dionysus watched and smiled. After a while the one helmsman realized it must be a god. He yelled that the crew should free him and beg for his forgiveness. The captain mocked him and set sail. The ship raised it sail ready to go and the wind blew, but the ship didn’t move. They looked around and saw the ship becoming overgrown with vines that kept it in it’s place. Dionysus changed himself into a lion and began to chase the men.  The pirates (except one) jumped overboard and turned into dolphins. Dionysus kept the one who recognized him as a god and showed him mercy. He went to the Underworld and rescued his mother, defying death and brought her to Olympus where the gods accepted her (only mortal to live there as a god).