Hypermnestra in the context of "Amymone"

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⭐ Core Definition: Hypermnestra

In Greek mythology, Hypermnestra (Ancient Greek: Ὑπερμνήστρα, Hypermnēstra) was by birth a Libyan princess and by marriage a queen of Argos. She is a daughter of King Danaus, and one of the 50 Danaids. Hypermnestra is most notable for being the only Danaid that betrayed her father and refused to kill her husband Lynceus, the future king of Argos.

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Hypermnestra in the context of Sons of Aegyptus

In Greek mythology, the Sons of Aegyptus were the fifty progeny of the king of Egypt, Aegyptus. They married their cousins, the fifty daughters of Danaus, twin brother of Aegyptus. In the most common version of the myth, they were all killed except one, Lynceus, who was saved by his wife Hypermnestra on their wedding night.

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Hypermnestra in the context of Danaïdes

In Greek mythology, the Danaïdes (/dəˈn.ɪdz/; Greek: Δαναΐδες), also Danaides or Danaids, were the fifty daughters of Danaus, king of Libya. In the most common version of the myth, the daughters were forced to marry the sons of Danaus' brother Aegyptus. In retaliation, Danaus commanded them to kill their husbands on their wedding night, and all but one, Hypermnestra, obeyed. The Danaids were then condemned to spend eternity carrying water in a sieve or perforated jug.

The myth of the Danaids is found in numerous written accounts from antiquity, such as in the writings of Apollodorus, Pindar, and Pausanius. The names of the Danaids are inscribed in lists from Apollodorus and Hyginus, though they differ greatly.

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Hypermnestra in the context of Cleopatra (Danaid)

Cleopatra (Ancient Greek: Κλεοπάτρα Kleopatra; "Glory of the father") in Greek mythology was the name of two Danaides of altogether 50 daughters of Danaus sired with different women. Each of the two Cleopatras married – like all their sisters – one of the 50 sons of Danaus’ twin brother Aegyptus. One Cleopatra, whose mother was a hamadryad (Atlantia or Phoebe), married Agenor, and the other Cleopatra, the daughter of the naiad Polyxo, married Hermus. Like all Danaides – except Hypermnestra – both Cleopatras killed their husbands on their wedding night.

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Hypermnestra in the context of Argyphia (mythology)

In Greek mythology, Argyphia (Ancient Greek: Ἀργυφίης) was one of the multiple consorts of Aegyptus, king of Egypt. She was a woman of royal blood and by the latter became the mother of six princes: Lynceus, Proteus, Busiris, Enceladus, Lycus and Daiphron. Her sons (except Lynceus) were married and murdered by their cousin-wives, daughters of King Danaus of Libya during their wedding night. The spared prince coupled with Hypermnestra and became the ancestors of famous Argives: Acrisius, Danae, Perseus, Heracles, etc.

According to Hippostratus, Aegyptus had his progeny by a single woman called Eurryroe, daughter of the river-god Nilus. In some accounts, he consorted with Isaie, daughter of his uncle Agenor, king of Tyre.

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Hypermnestra in the context of Elephantis (mythology)

In Greek mythology, Elephantis (Ancient Greek: Ἐλεφαντίδος) was one of the multiple women of Danaus, king of Libya. She became the mother of two Danaides: Hypermnestra and Gorgophone. The latter married and murdered her husband Proteus during their wedding night while Hypermnestra spared the life of her spouse Lynceus. These couples then started a new line of the Argive dynasty and became the ancestors of Acrisius, Danae, Perseus, Heracles, etc.

According to Hippostratus, Danaus had all his progeny begotten by Europa, the daughter of the river-god Nilus. In some accounts, he married Melia, daughter of his uncle Agenor, king of Tyre.

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Hypermnestra in the context of Lynceus of Argos

In Greek mythology, Lynceus (/ˈlɪnsəs, -sjs/; Ancient Greek: Λυγκεύς, romanizedLynkeús, lit.'lynx-eyed') was a prince of Egypt and king of Argos, succeeding Danaus on the throne. Through his marriage to the Danaid Hypermnestra, he began the Danaid Dynasty that led to Perseus, hero and legendary founder of Mycenae.

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