| Telete | |
|---|---|
Goddess of festivity and rituals | |
 Telete and Dionysus in a mosaic fromZeugma Mosaic Museum | |
| Major cult center | Boeotia |
| Abode | Earth |
| Symbols | Thyrsus |
| Genealogy | |
| Parents | Dionysus andNicaea |
| Siblings | Satyrus, several paternal half-siblings |
InGreek mythology,Telete (/ˈtɛlɪtiː/;Ancient Greek:Τελετή,romanized: Teletḗ,lit. 'consecration') is the daughter of the wine-godDionysus andNicaea, aNaiad daughter of theriver-godSangarius andCybele, 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. TheHorae 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 sonIacchus, her half-brother.[2]
Pausanias mentions a statue of Telete in the sanctuary of theHeliconianMuses inBoeotia. Her image was next to that ofOrpheus.[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]
