Hypermnestra
heroThe only one of the fifty Danaids who refused to murder her husband Lynceus on their wedding night.
The Myth
Forty-nine sisters obeyed their father and killed — she alone defied him and became the mother of kings. While all her sisters stabbed their husbands with hidden daggers, Hypermnestra could not bring herself to kill Lynceus. Some say it was because he respected her; others say she fell in love. Danaus imprisoned her for disobedience, but Aphrodite herself spoke in her defense at the trial. Lynceus eventually killed Danaus in revenge for his brothers. Hypermnestra and Lynceus founded the Argive royal dynasty that produced Acrisius, Danae, Perseus, and ultimately Heracles. Her single act of defiance created the bloodline that produced Greece's greatest hero.
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Fun Fact
Aphrodite personally defended Hypermnestra at trial — one of the rare times a goddess testified for a mortal.
Explore Further
Danaids
heroThe fifty daughters of Danaus, forty-nine of whom murdered their husbands and were condemned to...
Danaus
heroEgyptian-born king of Argos whose fifty daughters murdered their fifty husbands on their wedding...
Acrisius
heroKing of Argos who imprisoned his daughter Danae and was killed by his grandson Perseus with a...
Heracles
heroThe greatest hero of Greek mythology, son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene. Famous for his...
Heracles (Labours)
heroHeracles performed twelve seemingly impossible labours as penance for killing his family in a...
Lynceus (Argonaut)
heroThe Argonaut with superhuman eyesight who could see through the earth and beneath the sea, serving...
Lynceus the Argonaut
heroArgonaut famed for supernatural eyesight so sharp he could see through solid earth and spot objects...
Perseus
heroThe legendary hero who slew the Gorgon Medusa and rescued Andromeda from a sea monster. Perseus...
Perseus (Hero)
heroPerseus was the demigod son of Zeus and Danaë who slew Medusa, rescued Andromeda, and founded the...
Amphiaraus
heroAmphiaraus was a warrior-prophet who foresaw his death in the Seven Against Thebes but marched...
Aphrodite
godGoddess of love and beauty, born from the sea foam. Aphrodite's power to inspire desire was so...
Hera
godQueen of the Olympian gods and goddess of marriage. Known for her jealous rages against Zeus's...