Zeus fell in love with mortal Semele and consorted with her, but Hera was jealous, and in order to delude her husband's mistress, the goddess took the shape of a girl, persuading her to ask Zeus to come to her as he comes to Hera, so that she would know what pleasure it is to sleep with a god. At her suggestion then, Semele made this fatal request to Zeus, and being unable to endure divine presence, was smitten by a thunderbolt and gave birth to Dionysus prematurely. This is how Semele died, but later her son Dionysus 2 brought her up from the Underworld and ascended with her to heaven, where she was made immortal by Zeus.