Dido (disambiguation) facts for kids

Dido was the legendary founder and first queen of the ancient city of Carthage. She is a very important figure in history and mythology.

Who Was Dido?

Dido is a famous figure from ancient times. She was the founder and first queen of Carthage. Carthage was a powerful city in North Africa. Today, this area is in modern-day Tunisia. Dido's story is mainly told in the Roman epic poem, the Aeneid. This poem was written by the poet Virgil.

The Story of Queen Dido

According to legend, Dido was originally named Elissa. She was a princess from the city of Tyre. Tyre was a rich city in Phoenicia, which is now Lebanon. Her brother, Pygmalion, was the king of Tyre. He secretly killed Dido's husband, Sychaeus, to get his wealth.

Dido found out about her husband's death. She gathered loyal followers and much treasure. Then, she sailed across the Mediterranean Sea. After a long journey, Dido and her people landed on the coast of North Africa. Here, she asked the local ruler for a small piece of land. She wanted to build a new city.

The ruler agreed to give her only as much land as an oxhide could cover. Dido was very clever. She cut the oxhide into extremely thin strips. She then laid these strips end-to-end. This allowed her to enclose a large area of land. On this land, she founded the great city of Carthage. Carthage grew to become a very strong trading power. It was a rival to Rome for many years.

Dido in Art and Music

Dido's story has inspired many artists and musicians. Her tale of courage and founding a city is very dramatic.

• Dido, Queen of Carthage is a play. It was written by Christopher Marlowe. He was a famous English playwright.
• Dido and Aeneas is a well-known opera. It was created by Henry Purcell. This opera tells the story of Dido's love for the Trojan hero Aeneas.
• There is also another opera called Dido, Queen of Carthage. This one was composed by Stephen Storace.
• Dido is a painting. It was made by the artist Henry Fuseli. This painting shows Dido in a moment of sadness.

Other Famous "Didos"

The name Dido has been used for many other things. It can refer to people, ships, or even objects in space!

Dido the Singer

Dido is a very popular British singer-songwriter. Her full name is Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong. She became famous in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Her songs often have a calm and emotional style. Some of her most famous songs include "Thank You" and "White Flag."

Dido Elizabeth Belle

Dido Elizabeth Belle was a real person. She lived in England in the 1700s. She was the daughter of a British naval officer, Sir John Lindsay. Her mother was an enslaved African woman named Maria Belle. Dido Elizabeth Belle was raised by her great-uncle, Lord Mansfield. He was a very important judge. Her story shows the complex history of race and society in that time.

HMS Dido Ships

"HMS Dido" is a name given to several ships. These ships belonged to the British Royal Navy. "HMS" stands for "His Majesty's Ship" or "Her Majesty's Ship." These ships served in various wars and operations. They were named after the legendary Queen Dido of Carthage.

DIDO the Asteroid

There is an asteroid named 209 Dido. An asteroid is a small rocky object that orbits the Sun. This asteroid is quite large. It is located in the main asteroid belt. This belt is between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Scientists study asteroids to learn more about the early solar system.

Fido Dido, the Cartoon

Fido Dido is a popular cartoon character. He is known for his cool and laid-back attitude. He has a distinctive spiky hairstyle. Fido Dido was created in the 1980s. He became famous through various products and advertisements. He is often seen on clothing and other merchandise.