the fifty daughters of Danaus, king of Argos. They were betrothed to the fifty sons of Aegyptus, and promised to their father to kill their husbands on the bridal night. All are said to have fulfilled their promise with the exception of Hypermnestra, who spared the life of her husband, Lynceus. Having been purified from their crime, they were afterwards married to the victors in games instituted for the purpose. According to another account, the crime was avenged by Lynceus, who put them to death; and in the popular mythology they were doomed in Hades to the endless task of filling with water a vessel full of holes.