On their arrival in Argos, Danaos and his daughters, as suppliants, were greeted kindly by Gelanor, the Argive king.Whilst courteously acknowledging this kind gesture, Danaos then claimed that he himself was the rightful heir to the kingdom of Argos, through his descent from Io, princess of Argos and daughter of King Inachos.

    

    Just as courteously, Gelanor acknowledged his petition, and said that the ruling council would deliberate on Danaos's claim before making a decision. However, that evening, as both Argives and suppliants watched from the city walls, they saw a wolf attack a herd of the city's cattle, killing the bull. This omen convinced the Argives, and Gelanor ceded the throne. This action was not as generous as it seemed. Argos was suffering from a crippling drought, created by Poseidon. When the Argives had begun to worship Hera as the founding Immortal of their city instead of him, Poseidon had dried up all the springs.

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    Danaos sent his daughters out into the countryside to look for any springs Poseidon might have overlooked. One daughter, Amymome, seeing a deer, cast her javelin at it. She missed the deer, but the sound of the spear landing on the barren ground woke a sleeping satyr, who jumped up smartly and attempted to ravish the young woman. Her cries for help brought the Sea God Poseidon to her aid and he chased away the impudent satyr.

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    Amymome thanked the Sea God most prettily, and said she wished there was some way she could repay his kindness. Poseidon said he could think of a way. After she had shown her gratitude wholeheartedly, Amymome shyly asked the God if he knew where fresh water could be found. Poseidon plunged his trident into the earth. When he removed it, three streams of sweet water gushed forth. The spring is still known as Amymome. It is the source of the Lerna River, which even in the driest season flows with good, clear water.

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    The drought in Argos was broken, its new king, Danaos, was looking to the future with optimism when his brother Aegyptus arrived unexpectedly with his fifty sons, all heavily armed, insisting that they marry Danaos's daughters. Danaos had no choice, and so the marriage ceremonies were performed.

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    However, Danaos gave each of his daughters a small, sharp knife as a wedding gift. Fifty grooms lay with their brides that night, but only one rose to greet the sunrise. This was Lynceus. His bride, Hypermnestra had fallen in love with him and had spared his life. In time, Lynceus and Hypermnestra became rulers of Argos, as did their son Abas in his turn. Abas and his wife Aglaia had twin sons, Acrisios and Proitos, who, in the family tradition, hated each other. These two, it is said, fought each other in the womb. Their animosity was such that to escape his brother's murderous intentions, Proitos fled to Lycia in Asia Minor. In Lycia, Proitos married the king's daughter Stheneboia, and with the help of her father's army took possession of Tiryns, on the Greek mainland. With Acrisios ruling in Argos, the brothers between them then ruled the whole of Argolis.

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    Acrisios and his wife Eurydice had no children, which was of concern, as Stheneboia had given Proitos, in addition to several daughters, a son, Megapenthes. Acrisios went to Delphi and asked the Oracle what the future would bring. The Oracle told him, "Your wife will have a daughter. She will grow to be a woman. She will have a son. He will grow to manhood. He will kill you."

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    Acrisios went home to Argos, where his wife greeted him with a happy smile. "Guess what?" she asked.

    "You're pregnant," he replied.

      Her face fell. "How did you know?"

      "Just a lucky guess."

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    When the little girl, Danae, was born, Acrisios had his people build a tall tower with chambers at the very top, and there he sent Danae to live. The door to the stairway leading to her rooms was securely locked, and only Acrisios held the keys. Armed guards were set to patrol the surrounding area. Perhaps this was the origin of the Rapunzel story.

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    Despite her loneliness, Danae seemed to have a happy childhood. Her doting parents visited her daily. She had everything she could wish for, except of course companions. Acrisios had taken every possible human precaution to prevent Danae from having a son; but he hadn't considered the superhuman.

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    Who do you think looked down from Mount Olympus, through the window into Danae's penthouse suite, and said, "My goodness, what a beautiful girl! I really would like to get to know you better."

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    And he did.

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    Editor's correction: In Chapter 3, 'And from her children's children shall be born in time ....a fearless hero who shall free me from these bonds.'

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