In Greek mythology, Telete (/ˈtɛlɪt/; Ancient Greek: Τελετή, romanizedTeletḗ, lit.'consecration') is the daughter of the wine-god Dionysus and Nicaea, a Naiad daughter of the river-god Sangarius and Cybele, a mother goddess.

Telete
Goddess of festivity and rituals
Telete and Dionysus in a mosaic from Zeugma Mosaic Museum
Major cult centerBoeotia
AbodeEarth
SymbolsThyrsus
Genealogy
ParentsDionysus and Nicaea
SiblingsSatyrus, several paternal half-siblings

Mythology

edit

Concerning Telete's birth, it is related that Nicaea was ashamed of having been made pregnant by Dionysus, and even attempted to hang herself; nevertheless, in due time a daughter was born to her. The Horae were said to have served as midwives at Telete's birth.[1] Telete was destined by Dionysus to become a follower of himself and his son Iacchus, her half-brother.[2]

Pausanias mentions a statue of Telete in the sanctuary of the Heliconian Muses in Boeotia. Her image was next to that of Orpheus.[3]

Telete was associated with nighttime festivities and ritual dances in honor of Dionysus,[4] and has been interpreted as a goddess of initiation into the Bacchic rites.[5]

Notes

edit
  1. ^ Nonnus, 16.392-400
  2. ^ Nonnus, 48.884-885
  3. ^ Pausanias, 9.30.4
  4. ^ Nonnus, 16.400-402
  5. ^ "TELETE - Greek Goddess of Initiation Rites of the Bacchic Orgies". www.theoi.com. Retrieved 2021-04-15.

References

edit