Dido (pronounced DY-doh; Latin: [ˈdiːdoː]; Greek: Διδώ [diːdɔ̌ː]), also known as Elissa, is the legendary founder and first queen of Carthage in Greek and Roman mythology. Her name is of uncertain meaning but likely Phoenician in origin. Etymology The name Dido is believed to be of Phoenician origin, though its exact meaning is unknown. It may be related to the Phoenician word dido, meaning "wanderer," or derive from a Semitic root meaning "beloved." In Virgil's Aeneid, she is given the epithet Dido, while her Phoenician name is Elissa (Greek: Ἔλισσα). Mythological Account According to ancient sources, Dido was originally a princess of Tyre (in modern-day Lebanon). She fled her tyrannical brother Pygmalion and sailed with followers to North Africa, where she founded Carthage (in present-day Tunisia). The city prospered under her rule. Virgil's Aeneid, written around 19 BC, tells the story of the Trojan hero Aeneas, who, after the fall of Troy, arrives in Carthage and falls in love with Dido. When Aeneas leaves to fulfill his destiny in Italy, Dido, devastated, builds a funeral pyre and stabs herself. This episode is considered the origin of the enmity between Rome and Carthage. Earlier Greek and Roman sources, however, depict Dido as a wise and determined ruler who founded Carthage and later died of unrequited love or suicide. The historicity of Dido is uncertain, as all accounts were written long after Carthage's founding. Cultural Significance Dido appears in many later works of art, literature, and music, notably in Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas (c. 1688) and Berlioz's Les Troyens (1856–1858). She is often symbolised as a tragic figure torn between love and duty. Meaning: Unknown, probably Phoenician Origin: Phoenician Type: Mythological queen and city founder Usage regions: Greek and Roman mythology; global through arts