DANAE SHOWER OF GOLD
danae by Vecellio Tiziano
Danae, 4 pictures by Vecellio Tiziano
In Greek mythology, Danae was daughter of Acrisius, king of Argos. He shut her up in a bronze tower because of a prophecy that her son would kill his grandfather. Zeus became enamored of her and descended in a shower of gold; she gave birth to Perseus.
danae by Correggio
Correggio's Danae,1531
Danae, the daughter of Acrisius, King of Argos, and of Eurydice, had been shut up by her father in a tower with bronze doors, as it had been prophesied that she would gave birth to a son who would be the cause of Acrisius' own death.
But Zeus visited her in the form of a shower of gold falling from a cloud, and from their union Perseus was born.
The maiden is reclining on a bed of classical design ornamented with knobs.
Nearby Eros, as an intercessor between Zeus and the maiden, and representing divine desire, helps her to hold the sheet, so as not to loose the seed.
At their feet two cupids, one wingless and the other winged, and intended as a contrast between "sacred love and profane love", are busy engraving a tablet with an arrow.
Waterhouse's
Danae, 1892
 danae by J.W.Waterhouse
Her father (Acrisius) was told by an oracle that her son (his grandson) would kill him so he imprisoned her in an underground cell so that she would not meet any man. Zeus, who had fallen in love with her, broke into her cell by taking the form of a shower of gold (which opens all doors). Danae and her infant son were confined by order of her father, Acrisius, in a chest and set adrift on the sea.
The chest floated towards the island of Seriphus, where both were rescued by Dictys, a fisherman, and carried to Polydectes, king of the country, who received and protected them.
Her son from the union with Zeus was Perseus (who did kill his grandfather).
The child, Perseus, when grown up became a famous hero.
The king sent him to kill Medusa, which he did. got the white, winged horse Pegasus.
Perseus came across a Andromeda. chained to a rock, waiting to be sacrificed to a sea monster, called Cetus or Draco, Perseus killed the sea monster saved Andromeda, and married her. maybe worth a web page

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