Type: | Greek |
Parents: | Dionysus and Nicaea |
God Of: | Goddess of festivity and rituals |
Symbols: | Thyrsus |
Abode: | Earth |
Cult Center: | Boeotia |
Siblings: | Satyrus, several paternal half-siblings |
In Greek mythology, Telete (; Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Τελετή|Teletḗ|consecration) is the daughter of the wine-god Dionysus and Nicaea, a Naiad daughter of the river-god Sangarius and Cybele, a mother goddess.
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]