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Danaë
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Danaë

Greek mythology
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Danaë was a princess of Argos in Greek mythology, famously visited by Zeus in the form of a shower of gold. By him, she became the mother of the hero Perseus. Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danaë, daughter of Acrisius of Argos.12

Danaë's father, Acrisius, cast her and the infant Perseus into the sea in a chest, fearing a prophecy that his grandson would kill him. They survived and eventually settled on the island of Seriphus.2

Another figure in Greek mythology is Danaus, king of Egypt and twin brother of Aegyptus. Driven from Egypt, Danaus fled to Argos with his 50 daughters, the Danaïds. To avoid marrying his daughters to the sons of Aegyptus, Danaus commanded them to kill their husbands on their wedding night. All obeyed except one, Hypermestra. In punishment for their crime, the Danaïds were condemned to an eternal task of filling a bottomless vessel with water in Hades.3

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  1. Danaë
  2. Danaus
  3. Perseus

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