Danaë
For other uses, see Danae (plant) and
Danaë (painting) In
Greek mythology, Danaë (, "parched") was a daughter of King
Acrisius of
Argos and
Eurydice (no relation to
Orpheus' Eurydice). 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 child. 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.
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Danae
[Greek heroic] Danae was the daughter of Acrisius. An oracle warned Acrisius that Danae's son would someday kill him, so Acrisius shut Danae in a bronze room, away from all male company. However, Zeus conceived a passion for Danae, and came to her through the roof, in the form of a shower of gold that poured down into her lap; as a result she had a son, Perseus. When Acrisius discovered Perseus, he locked both mother and son in a chest, and set it adrift on the sea. The chest came ashore at Seriphus, where Danae and Perseus were welcomed. Later, King Polydectes of Seriphus fell in love with Danae and tried to force himself on her; he was eventually killed by Perseus.