SEMYRAME, SEMYRAMIS, SEMYRAMUS. Semiramis, fl. late eighth-early ninth century B.C., whose Assyrian name was Sammuramat, was the wife of Ninus, king of Assyria, and after he died she ruled from 810 to 805 B.C. Her life story is a mixture of legend and fact, since she won a reputation in war as a skillful campaigner and conqueror of Ethiopia, wore trousers to hide her sex from her soldiers, and took many lovers. She also built and fortified Babylon (Orosius I.iv.4.7-8). The reputation for arms and good administration was overshadowed during the medieval period by one for licentiousness. Irene Samuel shows that Semiramis's sexuality was mentioned in the ancient sources, but that ancient historians did not make it of first importance in her life. Orosius brought her sexuality to the fore, downplaying her other qualities. Dante places Semiramis among the lustful, Inf V.58-60, and Boccaccio says that she stained all her accomplishments when she gave herself to many men, De claris mulieribus II. Chaucer follows these sources in the treatment of Semiramis.

The Man of Law calls the Sultan's mother, who kills her son, "Virago, thou Semyrame the secounde," MLT 358-359. Semiramis did not kill her son; on the contrary, Boccaccio says that she was his lover and that she usurped the throne from him. Since Semyramis wore trousers and led the troops, the word "virago" coupled with her name implies the meaning of "mannish." Semyramis is among those who died for love, PF 288. She built and fortified Babylon, the city of Pyramus and Thisbe, LGW 706-709. [Nynus: Piramus: Tesbee]

Semyrame, the ME variant, occurs in medial position, MLT 359; Semyramis occurs initially, PF 288; and Semyramus occurs in final rhyming position, LGW 707.