Danaus

Role: king · First appears: Book 2 · Chapter 16

In Book 2, Chapter 16, Danaus sailed from Egypt against Gelanor and expelled him and the descendants of Agenor from the kingdom. At Argos, Gelanor and Danaus rivalled for the throne; after the people took the wolf’s victory over a bull as an omen, Danaus won the kingdom. Believing Apollo had sent the wolf, he built a temple to Apollo the Wolf-God.

In Book 2, Chapter 19, Danaus brought his daughter Hypermnestra to trial after she disobeyed his order, partly because he thought his safety was bound up with Lynceus. Hypermnestra was acquitted, and later won the trial concerning Lynceus against her father. Danaus also erected a temple to Athene near the Pontinus.

In Book 7, Chapter 1, Archander and Architeles became Danaus’s sons-in-law, marrying his daughters Scæa and Automate, respectively. In Book 7, Chapter 21, Belus fled to Aroe after his sons’ deaths and was said to fear Danaus even more than the name of Argos.