Dionysos

As soon as Hera learned of the impending birth of Dionysus, she decided to intervene. She transformed into another form and convinced Semele that she should make sure her lover was really a god. She was to find out by having Zeus appear to her in his natural form. Zeus promised to grant Semelé any wish, and so he granted her this one. He appeared in all his glory, surrounded by lightning and thunder. But the aftermath was terrifying, as the lightning set Cadmus' palace on fire and Semelé gave birth prematurely. Zeus saved the child by letting the ivy grow around him, which protected him. He then had it sewn into his side to carry it to term. After his rebirth, the boy was named Dionysos.

After his birth, little Dionysos was taken in by Hermes, the messenger of the gods, who entrusted him to the care of Semele's sister Ínó (wife of King Athamanthus). When Hera learned of this, however, she sent Athamanthus into a frenzy in which he killed his sons. Dionysus, however, was saved by Hermes. He was then raised by nymphs in a cave where vines grew. From there, Dionysos brought the first seedling of wine to the people and taught them how to make wine itself.

Dionysos and his retinue (Silenos, Satyrs, Mainades, etc.) travelled the world spreading merriment, but he did not spare his adversaries and opponents (examples are King Lycurgus of Thrace or King Pentheus of Thebes). During his travels on Naxos, he married Ariadne, daughter of the Cretan king Minous. Dionysos then sat on Olympus at the side of his father Zeus, which Hera had to accept. Eventually, Dionysos also descended to the underworld, from where he brought his mother, Semele, to Olympus, where she was given the new name Thyone.

Dionysos was constantly given new names, and so we can also know him by the names of Bacchus (the shaking one), Bromios (the rebellious one), Lénios (the protector of the press), etc.