The birth of Semiramis (1)

Text
Diodorus Siculus 2.4.2-3:
Now there is in Syria a city known as Ascalon, and not far from it a large and deep lake, full of fish. On its shore is a precinct of a famous goddess whom the Syrians call Derceto; and this goddess has the head of a woman but all the rest of her body is that of a fish, the reason being something like this. The story as given by the most learned of the inhabitants of the region is as follows: Aphrodite, being offended by this goddess, inspired in her a violent passion for a certain handsome youth among her votaries; and Derceto gave herself to a Syrian and bore a daughter, but then, filled with shame of her sinful deed, she killed the youth and exposed the child in a rocky desert region, while as for herself, from shame and grief she threw herself into the lake and was changed as to the form of her body into a fish; and it is for this reason that the Syrians to this day abstain from this animal and honour their fish as gods.

Source (list of abbreviations)
Diodorus Siculus 2.4.2-3

Bibliography

Amar Annus

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