Danaë

Danaë
Danaë reclining with Zeus as the shower of gold depicted on a vase 450-425 BC
Danae
Gustav Klimt 010.jpg
Consort Zeus, Polydectes (almost)
Parents Acrisius and Eurydice
Children Perseus

In Greek mythology, Danaë (Ancient Greek: Δανάη, English translation: "parched"[citation needed]) was a daughter of King Acrisius of Argos and Eurydice of Argos. She was the mother of Perseus by Zeus. She was sometimes credited with founding the city of Ardea in Latium.

Disappointed by his lack of male heirs, Acrisius asked an oracle if this would change. The oracle told him to go to the Earth's end where he would be killed by his daughter's son. She was childless and, meaning to keep her so, he shut her up in a bronze tower or cave. But Zeus came to her in the form of golden rain, and impregnated her. Soon after, their child Perseus was born.

Unwilling to provoke the wrath of the gods by killing his offspring, Acrisius cast Danaë and Perseus into the sea in a wooden chest. The sea was calmed by Poseidon and at the request of Zeus the pair survived. They washed ashore on the island of Seriphos, where they were taken in by Dictys - the brother of King Polydectes - who raised Perseus to manhood.

Later, after Perseus killed Medusa and rescued Andromeda, the oracle's prophecy came true. He started for Argos, but learning of the prophecy instead went to Larissa, where athletic games were being held. By chance, an aging Acrisius was there and Perseus accidentally struck him on the head with his javelin (or discus), fulfilling the prophecy. Too shamed to return to Argos he then gave the kingdom to Megapenthes, son of Proetus (Acrisius's brother) and took over his kingdom of Tiryns, also founding Mycenae and Midea there.

Another version states that, angry that his grandfather tried to kill him and his mother, Perseus returned home and challenged Acrisius in his court. He took out Medusa's head from a sack and turned Acrisius and his court to stone.

See also

Argive genealogy in Greek mythology
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Uranus
 
Gaia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cronus
 
Rhea
 
Oceanus
 
Tethys
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Memphis
 
 
Libya
 
Poseidon
 
 
 
Nilus
 
Inachus
 
Melia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Belus
 
Agenor
 
 
 
Telephassa
 
 
Phoroneus
 
Io
 
Zeus
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cadmus
 
Cilix
 
Europa
 
Phoenix
 
Achiroe
 
 
 
Epaphus
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Harmonia
 
 
Danaus
 
Aegyptus
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Polydorus
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Agave
 
 
Hypermnestra
 
Lynceus
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Autonoë
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ino
 
 
 
 
Abas
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Semele
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acrisius
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Danaë
 
Zeus
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Perseus
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

alexander the minor


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Danaë — empfängt den Goldregen (Detail aus einem rotfigurigen Glockenkrater aus Böotien, um 450 v. Chr., Louvre in Paris) Danaë (griechisch  Δανάη) war in der griechischen Mythologie die Tochter des …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Danaë — DANĂË, es, Gr. Δανάη, ης, (⇒ Tab. XVIII.) des Akrisius und der Eurydice, Apollod. lib. II. c. 2. §. 1. oder, nach andern, der Aganippe Tochter. Hygin Fab. 63. Sie sollte, nach des Orakels Ausspruche, einen Sohn gebähren, welcher seinen Großvater …   Gründliches mythologisches Lexikon

  • Danaë — Danaé (homonymie)  Cette page de paronymie regroupe plusieurs sujets et articles ayant des noms aux graphies très similaires. Danaé Dans la mythologie grecque, Danaé est la mère de Persée. L astéroïde 61 Danaé a été nommé en son honneur.… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Dánae — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Para otros usos de este término, véase Dánae (desambiguación). Dánae de Jan Gossaert (1527) …   Wikipedia Español

  • Danae — Cet article possède un paronyme, voir : Danaé (homonymie) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Danae — o Dánae puede referirse a: ● Danae, navío del siglo XX. ● Dánae, personaje de la mitología griega. * * * (Danáe) ► MITOLOGÍA Hija de un rey de Argos, el cual la mandó encerrar en una prisión para impedir que se casase. Zeus la visitó en forma de… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Danae — steht für die Pflanzengattung Danae mit der einzigen Art Traubendorn (Danae racemosa) Danaë, eine Gestalt der griechischen Mythologie (61) Danaë, ein Asteroid Diese Seite ist eine Begriffs …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • DANAE — filia Acrisii, Regis Argiv. ex Eurydice, filia Lacedaemonis, qui cum oraculo monitus esset, fore, ut a nepote occideretur, filiam munitissimae turi inclusit: cuius amore captus Iuppiter in imbrem aureum se convertit, et per tegulas in puellae… …   Hofmann J. Lexicon universale

  • Danae — or Danaë [dan′ā ē΄] n. [Gr Danaē] Gr. Myth. the mother of Perseus by Zeus, who visits her in the form of a shower of gold …   English World dictionary

  • Danae — Danae, Danaë griechischer Name. In Deutschland nur selten verwendet. Bekannt aus der griechischen Mythologie als Geliebte des Zeus …   Deutsch namen

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