fbpx
Wikipedia

Danaë

August 27, 2023

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
Ancient Boeotian bell-krater showing Zeus impregnating Danaë in the form of a shower of gold, circa 450–425 BC
Personal information
ParentsAcrisius and Eurydice
ConsortZeus, Polydectes
ChildrenPerseus
Eros pouring golden rain on Danaë, antique fresco in Pompeii

Family Edit

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

Mythology Edit

Disappointed by his lack of male heirs, King Acrisius asked the oracle of Delphi if this would change. The oracle announced to him that he would never have a son, but his daughter would, and that he would be killed by his daughter's son. At the time, Danaë was childless and, meaning to keep her so, King Acrisius shut her up in a bronze chamber to be constructed under the court of his palace (other versions say she was imprisoned in a tall brass tower with a single richly adorned chamber, but with no doors or windows, just a sky-light as the source of light and air). She was buried in this tomb, with the intent that she be closed off from all others for the rest of her life. However, Zeus, the king of the gods, desired her, and came to her in the form of golden rain which streamed in through the roof of the subterranean chamber and down into her womb. Soon after, their child Perseus was born.

Unwilling to provoke the wrath of the gods or the Furies by killing his offspring and grandchild, King 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 were washed ashore on the island of Seriphos, where they were taken in by Dictys—the brother of King Polydectes—who raised Perseus to manhood. 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.

Later, after Perseus brought back Medusa's head 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.

Genealogy Edit

Argive genealogy in Greek mythology
Colour key:

  Male
  Female
  Deity

Gallery Edit

See also Edit

Notes Edit

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel; Roach, Peter, James Hartman and Jane Setter, eds. Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary. 17th edition. Cambridge UP, 2006.
  2. ^ Wells, John C. (2000) [1990]. Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (new ed.). Harlow, England: Longman. p. 199. ISBN 978-0-582-36467-7.
  3. ^ Apollodorus, 2.2.2.
  4. ^ Hyginus, Fabulae 63; Scholiast on Apollonius of Rhodes, Argonautica 4.1091.
  5. ^ Hyginus, Fabulae 84.

References Edit

  • Gaius Julius Hyginus, Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. Online version at the Topos Text Project.
  • Apollodorus, The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.
  • Smith, William; Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, London (1873). "Danae" , Acri'sius

External links Edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Danae.
 
Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article "Danae".
  • The Warburg Institute Iconographic Database (images of Danae)

August 27, 2023
danaë, other, uses, disambiguation, greek, mythology, ancient, greek, Δανάη, romanized, danáē, ancient, greek, ɛː, modern, ðaˈna, argive, princess, mother, hero, perseus, zeus, credited, with, founding, city, ardea, latium, during, bronze, ancient, boeotian, b. For other uses see Danae disambiguation In Greek mythology Danae ˈ d ae n eɪ i 1 ˈ d ae n i iː 2 Ancient Greek Danah romanized Danae Ancient Greek da na ɛː Modern daˈna 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 DanaeAncient Boeotian bell krater showing Zeus impregnating Danae in the form of a shower of gold circa 450 425 BCPersonal informationParentsAcrisius and EurydiceConsortZeus PolydectesChildrenPerseusEros pouring golden rain on Danae antique fresco in Pompeii Contents 1 Family 2 Mythology 3 Genealogy 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 External linksFamily EditDanae was the daughter and only child of King Acrisius of Argos by his wife Queen Eurydice 3 or Aganippe 4 In some accounts she had a sister Evarete wife of King Oenomaus of Pisa and mother of Hippodamia 5 Mythology EditDisappointed by his lack of male heirs King Acrisius asked the oracle of Delphi if this would change The oracle announced to him that he would never have a son but his daughter would and that he would be killed by his daughter s son At the time Danae was childless and meaning to keep her so King Acrisius shut her up in a bronze chamber to be constructed under the court of his palace other versions say she was imprisoned in a tall brass tower with a single richly adorned chamber but with no doors or windows just a sky light as the source of light and air She was buried in this tomb with the intent that she be closed off from all others for the rest of her life However Zeus the king of the gods desired her and came to her in the form of golden rain which streamed in through the roof of the subterranean chamber and down into her womb Soon after their child Perseus was born Unwilling to provoke the wrath of the gods or the Furies by killing his offspring and grandchild King Acrisius cast Danae 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 were washed ashore on the island of Seriphos where they were taken in by Dictys the brother of King Polydectes who raised Perseus to manhood The King was charmed by Danae 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 Later after Perseus brought back Medusa s head 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 Genealogy EditArgive genealogy in Greek mythology vteInachusMeliaZeusIoPhoroneusEpaphusMemphisLibyaPoseidonBelusAchiroeAgenorTelephassaDanausElephantisAegyptusCadmusCilixEuropaPhoenixMantineusHypermnestraLynceusHarmoniaZeusPolydorusSpartaLacedaemonOcaleaAbasAgaveSarpedonRhadamanthusAutonoeEurydiceAcrisiusInoMinosZeusDanaeSemeleZeusPerseusDionysusColour key Male Female DeityGallery EditDanae in art Jan Gossaert 1527 Correggio s Danae 1531 1532 One of several variants by Titian 1544 Cupid is alongside Danae 120 cm 172 cm National Museum of Capodimonte Naples Hendrick Goltzius 1603 Artemisia Gentileschi c 1612 Danae by Orazio Gentileschi 1621 23 Rembrandt s Danae c 1636 Danae receiving Jupiter in a Shower of Gold by Adolf Ulrik Wertmuller 1787 Jacob van Loo 1650s Gustav Klimt s Danae 1907 See also EditDanae disambiguation Art Danae class cruiser The asteroid 61 Danae named after herNotes Edit Jones Daniel Roach Peter James Hartman and Jane Setter eds Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary 17th edition Cambridge UP 2006 Wells John C 2000 1990 Longman Pronunciation Dictionary new ed Harlow England Longman p 199 ISBN 978 0 582 36467 7 Apollodorus 2 2 2 Hyginus Fabulae 63 Scholiast on Apollonius of Rhodes Argonautica 4 1091 Hyginus Fabulae 84 References EditGaius Julius Hyginus Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus translated and edited by Mary Grant University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies Online version at the Topos Text Project Apollodorus The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer F B A F R S in 2 Volumes Cambridge MA Harvard University Press London William Heinemann Ltd 1921 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library Greek text available from the same website Smith William Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology London 1873 Danae Acri siusExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Danae Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica article Danae The Warburg Institute Iconographic Database images of Danae Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Danae amp oldid 1158823831, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.