SEMIRAMIS Sumatran

  Semiramis was the queen regent of the Assyrian Empire (reigned 811-806 BCE). She was famed for Her extraordinary beauty, strength, wisdom, voluptuousness, and alluring power. In her mythological story, Semiramis was the daughter of a Syrian goddess and a young Assyrian man. She was known for scoring military triumphs, building one of the most architectural Wonders of the world, and ruling with wisdom. 

When she was exposed by birth, the doves fed and cared for her until shepherds found her and raised her as Semiramis, "The One Who Came from the Doves ." She married King Ninus, and when he died, she became the sole ruler of the Assyrian empire. 

She irrigated Babylon, expanded her territories, and led campaigns in India. She ruled for forty-two years until her son overthrew her. She was the commander of armies and builder of the walls of Babylon and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. She built fabulous parks, famous fountains, monuments, and many cities along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers banks. She was a Queen with the intellect of a genius, commander of a great and successful army, founder of an empire, and builder of one of the world's most beautiful World Wonders.

When she died, she transformed into the shape of a dove and became a goddess, and the Assyrian queen passed to the realm of legend. 

Semiramis's story reveals a tale of a woman who achieved remarkable fame and power in her lifetime. She had considerable influence at the Assyrian court when women were not admitted to positions of authority in the Assyrian Empire. Having a woman ruler would have been unimaginable unless that woman had enough power to take and hold it. Her story should empower all women to become trailblazers, build empires, and have a legacy to live on in their name. 

DID YOU KNOW | Semiramis inspired the Italian medieval poet Dante, who placed her in his Inferno to punish her for her "sensual vices." The French Enlightenment writer Voltaire wrote a tragedy about her, which was later made into Rossini's 1823 opera Semiramide.

BEHIND THE LABEL: Look closely at the label and see how Semiram's story comes to life. The dove represents Semirami's commencement to Earth and departure to the eternal universe. A hand cradles a galaxy of stars, protected by the evil eye.