Semele (play)

Semele (Ancient Greek: Σεμέλη), also known by its alternative title The Water Carriers or Hydrophori (Ancient Greek: Ὑδροφόροι), is a lost ancient Greek tragedy by Aeschylus, an Athenian playwright of the early fifth century BC. Although lost except for some brief fragments, it is known that it dealt with the pregnancy of the Theban princess Semele, and Hera's trickery that led to Semele's fiery death at the hands of her lover Zeus.

Not enough fragments remain to construct the play's plot. Neither the date it premiered nor the festival it competed in can be inferred from the available testimonies. It is however notable for being the only confirmed tragedy in which Hera appeared. Semele was likely part of a typical Aeschylean tetralogy centering Dionysus, but it is hard to determine for sure which other plays were included in that tetralogy.