in the ancient mythology, the daughters of Danaus, or Danaus, eleventh king of Argos, and brother of Ægyptus.—They were 50 in number, and were espoused to the 50 sons of their uncle Ægyptus. Danaus, fearing the accomplishment of an oracle which had foretold that he should be expelled his kingdom by a son-in-law, persuaded his daughters to murder each of them her husband the first night; which they performed, all but Hypermnestra, who spared her husband Lynceus.—In vengeance for this crime of the 49 Danaides, the poets have condemned them to hell, to be continually employed in filling a cask perforated at the bottom.—The Danaides are sometimes also called Belides, from their father, who was the son of the Ægyptian Belus. Hyginus has preserved the names of 47 of them.