Danaë

For other uses, see Danaë (disambiguation).

In Greek mythology, Danaë (/ˈdæneɪ.i/,^[1] /ˈdæni.iː/;^[2] Ancient Greek: Δανάη, romanized: Danáē; Ancient Greek: [da.ná.ɛː], Modern: [ðaˈna.i]) was an Argive princess and mother of the hero Perseus by Zeus. She was credited with founding the city of Ardea in Latium during the Bronze Age.

Danaë
Mother of Perseus
Ancient Boeotian bell-krater showing Zeus impregnating Danaë in the form of a shower of gold, circa 450–425 BC
Genealogy
Parents	Acrisius (father) Eurydice (mother)
Siblings	Evarete
Consort	Zeus
Children	Perseus

Eros pouring golden rain on Danaë, antique fresco in Pompeii

Family

Danaë was the daughter and only child of King Acrisius of Argos by his wife, Queen Eurydice, daughter of Lacedaemon and Sparta,^[3] or Aganippe.^[4] In some accounts, she had a sister, Evarete, wife of King Oenomaus of Pisa and mother of Hippodamia.^[5]

By Zeus, Danaë was the mother of the hero Perseus, slayer of Medusa and founder of Mycenae.^[6]

Mythology

Disappointed by his lack of male heirs, King Acrisius asked the Oracle of Delphi if this would change. The oracle told him that he would never have a son, but his daughter would, and that this grandson would one day kill him. At the time, Danaë was Acrisius' only daughter, and was childless. Meaning to prevent the prophecy from coming true, Acrisius shut her into a bronze chamber and buried it underground.^[7] Other authors have alternatively described Danaë as being locked in a brazen tower with only a small vent as a source of light and air.^[8][9]

However, Zeus desired Danaë, and came to her in the form of golden rain that streamed in through the roof of her chamber and onto her lap, impregnating her. Soon after, Perseus was born. Upon discovering the child, Acrisius was enraged and refused to believe that Zeus was Perseus' father. However, he didn't want to provoke the wrath of the gods or Furies by killing his family, and instead placed Danaë and Perseus into a wooden chest and cast it into the sea.^[5] The sea was calmed by Poseidon and, at the behest of Zeus, the pair survived.^[9]

They were washed ashore on the island of Serifos, where they were taken in by the fisherman Dictys—brother of King Polydectes—who raised Perseus to manhood in the temple of Athena. The King was charmed by Danaë, but she had no interest in him. Consequently, he agreed not to marry her only if her son would bring him the head of the Gorgon Medusa. Using Athena's shield, Hermes's winged sandals and Hades's helmet of invisibility, Perseus was able to evade Medusa's gaze and decapitate her.^[10]

Later, after Perseus brought back Medusa's head and rescued Andromeda the princess of Aethiopia. Perseus started towards Argos, but when Acrisius heard of this, he fled to Larissa where an athletics competition was being held. Perseus then also journeyed to Larissa and partook in the games. During the competition, Perseus accidentally struck Acrisius on the foot or head with his javelin (or discus), killing him and fulfilling the prophecy.^[11][5]

Genealogy

Argive genealogy in Greek mythology

v t e

Inachus Melia Zeus Io Phoroneus Epaphus Memphis Libya Poseidon Belus Achiroë Agenor Telephassa Danaus Elephantis Aegyptus Cadmus Cilix Europa Phoenix Mantineus Hypermnestra Lynceus Harmonia Zeus Polydorus Sparta Lacedaemon Ocalea Abas Agave Sarpedon Rhadamanthus Autonoë Eurydice Acrisius Ino Minos Zeus Danaë Semele Zeus Perseus Dionysus

Colour key:   Male   Female   Deity

Gallery

• Danaë in art
• 
  Jan Gossaert, 1527
• 
  Correggio's Danaë, 1531–1532.
• 
  One of several variants by Titian, 1544. Cupid is alongside Danaë. 120 cm × 172 cm. National Museum of Capodimonte, Naples
• 
  Hendrick Goltzius, 1603
• 
  Artemisia Gentileschi, c. 1612
• 
  Danaë by Orazio Gentileschi, 1621–23.
• 
  Rembrandt's Danaë, c. 1636.
• 
  Danaë receiving Jupiter in a Shower of Gold, by Adolf Ulrik Wertmüller (1787)
• 
  Jacob van Loo, 1650s
• 
  Gustav Klimt's Danaë, 1907.