The myths of Io and Semele are both tragic tales, demonstrating the terrifying wrath of Hera. Understandably Hera is annoyed that Zeus can not seem to keep it in his pants ... but were these punishments REALLY necessary? Did Io really need to be turned into a cow? Did Semele really need to burst into flames (even if she is the mother of the next Olympian god, Dionysus)???