(fab. hist.), a son of Belus and Anchinoe, who after his father death reigned conjointly with his brother Ægyptus on the throne of Egypt. Some time after, a difference arose between the brothers, and Danaus set sail with his fifty daughters in quest of a settlement. He visited Rhodes, where he consecrated a statue to Minerva, and arrived safe on the coast of Peloponnesus, where he was hospitably received by Gelanor king of Argos. Gelanor had lately ascended the throne, and the first years of his reign were marked with dissensions with his subjects. Danaus took advantage of Gelanor's unpopularity, and obliged him to leave the crown. In Gelanor, the race of the Inachidae was extinguished, and the Beldes began to reign at Argos in Danaus. Some authors say, that Gelanor voluntarily resigned the crown to Danaus, on account of the wrath of Neptune, who had dried up all the waters of Argolus, to punish the impiety of Inachus. The success of Danaus invited the fifty sons of Ægyptus to embark for Greece. They were kindly received by their uncle; who, either apprehensive of their number, or terrified by an oracle which threatened his ruin by one of his sons-in-law, caused his daughters, to whom they were promised in marriage, to murder them the first night of their nuptials. His orders were executed. Hypermnestra alone spared the life of Lynceus: (See Danaides). Danaus at first persecuted Lynceus with unremitting fury; but he was afterwards reconciled to him, and he acknowledged him for his son-in-law and successor after a reign of 50 years. He began his reign about 1586 years before the Christian era; and after death he was honoured with a splendid monument in the town of Argos, which still existed in the age of Paulianus. According to Æschylus, Danaus left Egypt, not to be present at the marriage of his daughters with the sons of his brother, a connection which he deemed unlawful and impious.