Danaus

Danaus (or Danaos) was the son of Belus (a mythical king of Egypt) and the naiad Achiroe, and was the notional founder (or re-founder) of the city of Argos. He had fifty daughters, collectively known as the Danaides, twelve of whom were born to Polyxo and the rest to Pieria and other women. His twin brother, Aegyptus, on the other hand, had fifty sons, and he commanded that his sons marry the Danaides. Danaus elected to flee with his daughters instead and, for that purpose, he built the first ever ship and fled to Argos. Eventually, Danaus allowed his daughters to marry Aegyptus’ sons, but commanded that they kill them on their wedding night. His daughter Hypermnestra (who had refused to kill her husband, Lynceus) began a dynasty of Argive kings. In some versions, Lynceus later killed Danaus as revenge for the death of his brothers.