Daughters of Danaus
Encyclopedia
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, the Daughters of Danaus or Danaids (also Danaides or Danaïdes; ; dəˈneɪɪdiːz) were the fifty daughters of Danaus
Danaus
In Greek mythology Danaus, or Danaos , was the twin brother of Aegyptus and son of Achiroe and Belus, a mythical king of Egypt. The myth of Danaus is a foundation legend of Argos, one of the foremost Mycenaean cities of the Peloponnesus...
. They were to marry the fifty sons of Danaus's twin brother Aegyptus
Aegyptus
- Aegyptus, King of Egypt and Arabia :In Greek mythology, Aegyptus is a descendant of the heifer maiden, Io, and the river-god Nilus, and was a king in Egypt. Aegyptos was the son of Belus and Achiroe, a naiad daughter of Nile. Aegyptus fathered fifty sons, who were all but one murdered by the...
, a mythical king of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. In the most common version of the myth, all but one of them kill their husbands on their wedding night, and are condemned to spend eternity carrying water in a sieve or perforated device. In the classical tradition
Classical mythology
Classical mythology or Greco-Roman mythology is the cultural reception of myths from the ancient Greeks and Romans. Along with philosophy and political thought, mythology represents one of the major survivals of classical antiquity throughout later Western culture.Classical mythology has provided...
, they come to represent the futility of a repetitive task that can never be completed (see also Sisyphus
Sisyphus
In Greek mythology Sisyphus was a king punished by being compelled to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down, and to repeat this throughout eternity...
).
Mythology
Danaus did not want his daughters to go ahead with the marriages and he fled with them in the first boat built to ArgosArgos
Argos is a city and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 11 kilometres from Nafplion, which was its historic harbour...
, which is located in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
near the ancient city of Mycenae
Mycenae
Mycenae is an archaeological site in Greece, located about 90 km south-west of Athens, in the north-eastern Peloponnese. Argos is 11 km to the south; Corinth, 48 km to the north...
.
Danaus agreed to the marriage of his daughters only after Aegyptus came to Argos with his fifty sons in order to protect the local population, the Argives, from any battles. The daughters were ordered by their father to kill their husbands on the first night of their weddings and this they all did with the exception of one, Hypermnestra
Hypermnestra
Hypermnestra , in Greek mythology, is a name that refers to several characters.-The Danaid:Hypermnestra was the daughter of Danaus. Danaus was the twin brother of Aegyptus and son of Belus. He had fifty daughters, the Danaides, and Aegyptus had fifty sons. Aegyptus commanded that his sons marry the...
, who spared her husband Lynceus
Lynceus
In Greek mythology, Lynceus was a king of Argos, succeeding Danaus. He is named as a descendant of Belus through his father Aegyptus, who was the twin brother of Danaus. Danaus had fifty daughters, the Danaides, while Aegyptus had fifty sons including Lynceus, whose name when translated means "wolf"...
because he respected her desire to remain a virgin. Danaus was angered that his daughter refused to do as he ordered and took her to the Argives courts. Lynceus killed Danaus as revenge for the death of his brothers and he and Hypermnestra started the Danaid Dynasty of rulers in Argos.
The other forty-nine daughters remarried by choosing their mates in footraces. Some accounts tell that their punishment was in Tartarus
Tartarus
In classic mythology, below Uranus , Gaia , and Pontus is Tartarus, or Tartaros . It is a deep, gloomy place, a pit, or an abyss used as a dungeon of torment and suffering that resides beneath the underworld. In the Gorgias, Plato In classic mythology, below Uranus (sky), Gaia (earth), and Pontus...
being forced to carry a jug to fill a bathtub (pithos) without a bottom (or with a leak) to wash their sins off. Because the water was always leaking they would forever try to fill the tub. Probably this myth is connected with a ceremony having to do with the worship of waters, and the Danaides were water-nymphs. The rivers at Argolis
Argolis
Argolis is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula.-Geography:...
were empty during summer and they overflowed during winter, therefore the name Danaus
Danaus
In Greek mythology Danaus, or Danaos , was the twin brother of Aegyptus and son of Achiroe and Belus, a mythical king of Egypt. The myth of Danaus is a foundation legend of Argos, one of the foremost Mycenaean cities of the Peloponnesus...
and Danaides is probably connected with the Proto-Indo-European
Proto-Indo-European language
The Proto-Indo-European language is the reconstructed common ancestor of the Indo-European languages, spoken by the Proto-Indo-Europeans...
root *danu:"river".
Apollodorus
The list in Apollodorus preserves not only the names of brides and grooms, but also those of their mothers. A lot was cast among the sons of Aegyptus to decide which of the Danaids each should marry.- The daughters of Elephantis were given to the sons of Queen Argyphia
- Hypermnestra to Lyncaeus
- Gorgophone to Proteus
- Daughters of Europe to (the rest of the) sons of Argyphia
- Automate to Busiris
- Amymone to Enceladus
- Agave to Lycus
- Scaea to Daiphron
- Daughters of Atlanteia or of Phoebe, the Hamadryads, to sons of an Arabian woman
- Hippodamia to Istrus
- Rhodia to Chalcodon
- CleopatraCleopatra, daughter of DanausCleopatra was in Greek mythology the name of two Danaides, that means of two of altogether 50 daughters of Danaus, who had born his numerous daughters with different women. Each of the two Cleopatras married – like all her sisters – one of the 50 sons of Danaus’ twin brother Aegyptus...
to Agenor - Asteria to Chaetus
- Hippodamia (different one) to Diocorystes
- Glauce to Alces
- Hippomedusa to Alcmenor
- Gorge to Hippothous
- Iphimedusa to Euchenor
- Rhode to Hippolytus
- Daughters of an EthiopiaEthiopiaEthiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
n woman to sons of a PhoeniciaPhoeniciaPhoenicia , was an ancient civilization in Canaan which covered most of the western, coastal part of the Fertile Crescent. Several major Phoenician cities were built on the coastline of the Mediterranean. It was an enterprising maritime trading culture that spread across the Mediterranean from 1550...
n woman- Pirene to Agaptolemus
- Dorion to Cercetes
- Phartis to Eurydamas
- Mnestra to Aegius
- Evippe to Argius
- Anaxibia to Archelaus
- Nelo to Menemachus
- Daughters of Memphis to sons of Tyria (without casting a lot, since they were namesakes)
- Clite to Clitus
- Sthenele to Sthenelus
- Chrysippe to Chrysippus
- Daughters of Polyxo to sons of CaliadneCaliadneCaliadne , in Greek mythology, is a naiad of the river Nile, presumably one of the daughters of the river-god Nilus. She is one of the wives of Aegyptus, bearing him twelve sons: Eurylochus, Phantes, Peristhenes, Hermus, Dryas, Potamon, Cisseus, Lixus, Imbrus, Bromios, Polyctor, and Chthonios...
(both mothers were NaiadNaiadIn Greek mythology, the Naiads or Naiades were a type of nymph who presided over fountains, wells, springs, streams, and brooks....
s)- Autonoe to Eurylochus
- Theano to Phantes
- Electra to Peristhenes
- CleopatraCleopatra, daughter of DanausCleopatra was in Greek mythology the name of two Danaides, that means of two of altogether 50 daughters of Danaus, who had born his numerous daughters with different women. Each of the two Cleopatras married – like all her sisters – one of the 50 sons of Danaus’ twin brother Aegyptus...
(different one) to Hermus - Eurydice to Dryas
- Glaucippe to Potamon
- Anthelia to Cisseus
- Cleodore to Lixus
- Evippe (different one) to Imbrus
- Erato to Bromius
- Stygne to Polyctor
- Bryce to Chthonius
- Daughters of Pieria to sons of Gorgo
- Actaea to Periphas
- Podarce to Oeneus
- Dioxippe to Aegyptus
- Adite to Menalces
- Ocypete to Lampus
- Pylarge to Idmon
- Daughters of Herse to sons of Hephaestine
- Hippodice to Idas
- Adiante to Daiphron (different one)
- Daughters of Crino to (the rest of the) sons of Hephaestine
- Callidice to Pandion
- Oeme to Arbelus
- Celaeno to Hyperbius
- Hyperippe to Hippocorystes
Hyginus
Hyginus' list is partially corrupt and some of the names are poorly readable. Nevertheless, it is evident that this catalogue has almost nothing in common with that of Apollodorus.- Midea killed Antimachus
- Philomela, Panthius
- Scylla, Proteus
- Amphicomone, Plexippus
- Evippe, Agenor
- Demoditas, Chrysippus
- Hyale, Perius
- Trite, Enceladus
- Damone, Amyntor
- Hippothoe, Obrimus
- Myrmidone, Mineus
- Eurydice, Canthus
- Cleo, Asterius
- Arcadia, Xanthus
- Cleopatra, Metalces
- Phila, Philinus
- Hipparete, Protheon
- Chrysothemis, Asterides
- Pyrante, Athamas
- ?, Armoasbus
- Glaucippe, Niauius
- Demophile, Pamphilus
- Autodice, Clytus
- Polyxena, Aegyptus
- Hecabe, Dryas
- Acamantis, Ecnomius
- Arsalte, Ephialtes
- Monuste, Eurysthenes
- Amymone, Midanus
- Helice, Evidea
- Oeme, Polydector
- Polybe, Itonomus
- Helicta, Cassus
- Electra, Hyperantus
- Eubule, Demarchus
- Daplidice, Pugno
- Hero, Andromachus
- Europome, Athletes
- Pyrantis, Plexippus
- Critomedia, Antipaphus
- Pirene, Dolichus
- Eupheme, Hyperbius
- Themistagora, Podasimus
- Celaeno, Aristonoos
- Itea, Antiochus
- Erato, Eudaemon
- Danaïs, Pelops
- Cleopatra, Hermus
- Hypermnestra saved Lynceus.
Other Danaids
Several minor female characters, mentioned in various accounts unrelated to the main myth of Danaus and the Danaides, are also referred to as daughters of Danaus. These include:- Anaxithea, mother of OlenusOlenusIn Greek mythology, Olenus was the name of several individuals:#Olenus, son of Hephaestus and father of Helice and Aex, two nurses of infant Zeus. A city in Aulis was named for him....
by ZeusZeusIn the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus... - Amphimedusa, mother of ErythrasErythrasErythras was a name attributed to three men in Greek mythology.*Erythras, son of Heracles and Exole, daughter of Thespius and Megamede.*Erythras, son of Leucon. One of the suitors of Hippodamia, killed by Oenomaus....
by PoseidonPoseidonPoseidon was the god of the sea, and, as "Earth-Shaker," of the earthquakes in Greek mythology. The name of the sea-god Nethuns in Etruscan was adopted in Latin for Neptune in Roman mythology: both were sea gods analogous to Poseidon... - Eurythoe, one of the possible mothers of OenomausOenomausIn Greek mythology, King Oenomaus of Pisa, the father of Hippodamia, was the son of Ares, either by the naiad Harpina or by Sterope, one of the Pleiades, whom some identify as his consort instead...
by AresAresAres is the Greek god of war. He is one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera. In Greek literature, he often represents the physical or violent aspect of war, in contrast to the armored Athena, whose functions as a goddess of intelligence include military strategy and...
; alternatively, mother of HippodamiaHippodamiaHippodamia was a daughter of King Oenomaus and wife of Pelops with whom her offspring were Thyestes, Atreus, Pittheus, Alcathous, Troezen, Hippalcimus, Copreus, Astydameia, Nicippe, Eurydice and others....
by OenomausOenomausIn Greek mythology, King Oenomaus of Pisa, the father of Hippodamia, was the son of Ares, either by the naiad Harpina or by Sterope, one of the Pleiades, whom some identify as his consort instead... - Hippodamia and Isione, wives of Olenus and Orchomenus or Chryses respectively, who were both seduced by Zeus
- Isonoe, mother of Orchomenus by Zeus
- Phaethusa, one of the possible mothers of MyrtilusMyrtilusIn Greek mythology, Myrtilus was a divine hero, a son of Hermes on Theobule , and charioteer of King Oenomaus of Pisa in Elis, on the northwest coast of the Peloponnesus....
by HermesHermesHermes is the great messenger of the gods in Greek mythology and a guide to the Underworld. Hermes was born on Mount Kyllini in Arcadia. An Olympian god, he is also the patron of boundaries and of the travelers who cross them, of shepherds and cowherds, of the cunning of thieves, of orators and... - Phylodameia, mother of PharisPharis (mythology)In Greek mythology, Pharis was the son of Hermes and the Danaid Phylodameia, and founder of Pharae in Messene. He had one daughter, Telegone, who consorted with the river god Alpheius and had by him a son Ortilochus , who in his turn became father of Diocles, and Diocles had twin sons Crethon and...
by Hermes - Physadeia, who, like her sister Amymone, gave her name to a freshwater source
- Polydora, mother of Dryops (Oeta)Dryops (Oeta)In Greek mythology, Dryops was a son of the river god Spercheus and the Danaid Polydora. He reigned in the neighborhood of Mount Oeta and was believed to have given his name to the people Dryopes; the people, original inhabitants of the banks of River Spercheios, retained the name after having...
by the river god SpercheusSpercheusIn Greek mythology, Spercheus or Spercheios was the name of a river in Thessaly , and of the god of that river. According to Antoninus Liberalis, Cerambus was punished for claiming that the nymphs of Mount Othrys were daughters of Spercheus by Deino... - Side, mythical eponymEponymAn eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
of a town in LaconiaLaconiaLaconia , also known as Lacedaemonia, is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the southeastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. Its administrative capital is Sparti...
Modern literature
The Daughters of Danaus is also the title of an 1894 novel by Mona CairdMona Caird
Mona Caird was a Scottish novelist and essayist whose feminist views sparked controversy in the late 19th century...
, also dealing with imposed marriage although in this case it is a single marriage instead of fifty, and in 19th-century Great Britain.