Zeus's Amorous History (Part 2): Danaë and the Golden Rain
Danaë was the only daughter of King Acrisius of Argos and Eurydice in Greek mythology. When the king consulted the gods about having an heir to the throne, he received a prophecy that he would be killed by his own grandson, born to Danaë. Terrified, Acrisius immediately ordered a bronze tower to be built and locked his daughter inside. He allowed only an elderly servant to attend to her, while fierce dogs were kept below to prevent any contact with men.
However, mortal precautions could not thwart Zeus. As he passed by the tall tower, he caught a glimpse of Danaë's exquisite beauty and voluptuous form through a window, and he was instantly captivated. Transforming himself into a shower of golden rain, Zeus united with the beautiful maiden in an act of passion.
As a result of their union, Danaë became pregnant and gave birth to a son named Perseus. When the king learned of this, he was filled with anger. Despite all his efforts to prevent the prophecy from coming true, he couldn't bring himself to kill the infant. Instead, he ordered both mother and child to be sealed in a wooden chest and cast into the sea, leaving their fate to the gods.
Unfinished business still remained for Zeus, who guided the currents to carry the mother and child to the island of Seriphos, where they were rescued by a fisherman named Dictys. This fisherman happened to be the brother of the island's king, Polydectes. Through him, Danaë eventually met and married the king.
Perseus received a good upbringing on the island, and as for his encounters with Medusa and other adventures, that is a story for another time.
