Semele is asteroid #86 and of the type C. Semele’s orbit is characterized by a semi-major axis of 3.12 Astronomical Units, an eccentricity of 0.21, a period of revolution of 2 017 days, and an inclination of 4.8 degrees. Semele was discovered by the German astronomer Friedrich Tietjen at the Berlin Observatory. Semele was his only asteroid discovery.

Semele is named after the princess Semélē (Σεμέλη) from Greek mythology. Semélē (Σεμέλη) is described as human because she is the daughter of Kádmos (Κάδμος), king of Thebes, but Semélē (Σεμέλη) also is the daughter of the goddess Harmonia (Ἁρμονία), after whom the asteroid Harmonia is named, so Semélē (Σεμέλη) could as well be a half-goddess. Agaúē (Ἀγαύη), Autonóē (Αὐτονόη), and Inṓ ( Ἰνώ), after whom the asteroid Ino is named, are sisters of Semélē (Σεμέλη). Polýdōros (Πολύδωρος) and Illyrios ( Ἰλλυριός) are their brothers. Semélē (Σεμέλη) was a lover of Zeus and so became the mother of Dionysos (Διόνυσος), so her tale is described in my article on the asteroid Dionysus. Because Semélē (Σεμέλη) loses her life in this tale, so the tale of Semélē (Σεμέλη) can’t continue further, but it has a sequel. Dionysos (Διόνυσος) decides to go into the underworld and bring his mother back. He is mighty enough to do this. She has no more place among the mortals, so she is permitted to live among the Olympian deities and her name is changed to Thyṓnē (Θυώνη). What this name means is unclear. Perhaps she needed a new name because of Hera’s hatred.

Semélē (Σεμέλη) requested a proof that Zeus really is Zeus. On the one hand a great idea, on the other hand way too late because she already was bearing his child. Semélē (Σεμέλη) also didn’t understand that the true form of Zeus is very hazardous. So the asteroid Semele is a representative of naïveté, wishful thinking, and believing what you want to believe.