Danae was the daughter of Acrisius, king of Argos. She was shut up by her father in a tower, as there was a prophecy that her son would kill her father. Zeus, who loved her, descended to her in a shower of gold and thus gained access to her. She bore him a son, Perseus. Acrisius next put both mother and child into a chest and set it adrift on the sea. The chest, however, drifted ashore on the island of Seriphos in the Cyclades, and Danae and her child were saved. She remained on the island until Perseus had grown up and become a hero famous for his exploits, then she accompanied him to Argos. On his arrival, Acrisius fled, but was subsequently slain accidentally by Perseus at Larissa. Correggio, Rembrandt and Titian have made the story of Danae's union with Zeus the subject of famous paintings. Paintings:
Back to the top
Copyright ©1998-2001 Roy George |