antiquity, a coin somewhat more than an obolus, used to be put into the mouths of the dead, to pay their passage over the river Acheron.

fabulous history, was the daughter of Acrifius king of Argos, by Eurydice. She was confined in a brazen tower by her father, who had been told by an oracle that his daughter's son would put him to death. His endeavours to prevent Danae from becoming a mother proved fruitless; and Jupiter, who was enamoured of her, introduced himself to her bed by changing himself into a golden shower. From his embraces Danae had a son, with whom she was exposed on the sea by her father. The wind drove the bark which carried her to the coasts of the island of Seriphos, where she was saved by some fishermen, and carried to Polydeuces king of the place, whose brother, called Dicty, educated the child called Perseus, and tenderly treated the mother. Polydeuces fell in love with her; but as he was afraid of her son, he sent him to conquer the Gorgons, pretending that he wished Medusa's head to adorn the nuptials which he was going to celebrate with Hippodamia the daughter of Enomous. When Perseus had victoriously finished his expedition, he retired to Argos with Danae to the house of Acrifius, whom he inadvertently killed. Some suppose that it was Proetus the brother of Acrifius who introduced himself to Danae in the brazen tower; and instead of a golden shower, it was maintained that the keepers of Danae were bribed by the gold of her seducer. Virgil mentions that Danae came to Italy with some fugitives of Argos, and that she founded a city called Ardea.