by Marilla Mulwane

Created on: February 16, 2010

The Greek myth of Zeus and Danae is far from a sappy love story. It is more a story that helps to prove how one seemingly unimportant moment begins a chain reaction. That moment creates new moments, and so on and so forth, and from them something spectacular happens, something important. But if not for the moments that came before, it would not have happened. If not for the story of Zeus and Danae, the Greek hero Perseus would never have been born.

-Moment #1: Zeus is born and considers himself a ladies man-

Zeus is the son of Cronos and Rhea. He is the ruler of Olympus and one to which all of the gods answer to. Also, all mortals look to him and worship him. Basically, Zeus is the head honcho. It was up to Zeus to uphold the law. He also kept everyone “moral”. However, Zeus had a difficult time keeping his toga on and he would often seduce and trick young maidens into mating with him. Because of this, Zeus has had many, many children.

One of the young maidens that Zeus set his sights on was Danae.

-Moment #2: Acrisius fears a prophecy-

Acrisius had a very beautiful daughter, named Danae. However, he really wanted a male heir. So, he went to an oracle to find out if Danae would bear him a grandson, who could become his heir. Expecting good news, Acrisius learned that his grandson would one day kill him. Not dying suddenly became much more important than a male heir, so Acrisius shut Danae away into a bronze tower. This tower was impenetrable, and would prevent Danae from every having children, because no man could ever get inside.

Zeus, however, always liked a challenge.

-Moment #3: Danae gets a little sunlight-

Zeus wanted Danae, both because he was attracted to her and because he wanted to show Acrisius that no one could prevent him from getting what he wanted. Zeus turned himself into golden rays that showered down through the roof of the tower. The golden rays fell into Danae’s lap and her child was conceived.

-Moment #4: Acrisius fears the prophecy again-

Now, just because Perseus was born does not mean the story is over. There is a little bit more that has to happen before Perseus goes on his quest and becomes a hero. His grandfather was afraid of the baby boy, and he put both Danae and Perseus in a chest and sent them floating out into the ocean. He figured they would either die, or wash up somewhere far away from him.

With the help of Poseidon, the god of the sea, sent by Zeus, Dane and Perseus did survive. They washed up in Seriphus, and found a home there. Because of all that had happened to them, Perseus grew up very protective of his mother. So when King Polydectes took in interest in her, Perseus would not let him near her. To get rid of Perseus, the king sent him on an impossible quest to kill Medusa.

-What all the moments lead up to-

Perseus would kill the Gorgon monster Medusa. Anyone that looks at her eyes turns to stone, and Perseus uses the severed head to get his revenge. He turns Atlas into stone, drops poisonous blood to create the poisonous snakes of Africa. He rescues Andromeda by turning her jilted suitor to stone. He returns home with her, and rescues his mother by turning the king to stone.

None of this would have happened if not for the moments leading up to King Polydectes sending Perseus off to kill Medusa.

And the prophecy that Acrisius so feared? After his quest, Perseus returns to his old home. While there, he takes up a game of discus with his grandfather. A bad throw by Perseus sends the discus towards Acrisius, knocking him on the head and killing him. Oops.

Sourcces:

DANAE, Encyclopedia Mythica

Perseus, Enyclopedia Mythica

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