The Danaïdes: fifty sisters and a water jar

The myth of the family that gave Isonoe its name.

Published 2026-10-23

Isonoe is named after one of the Danaïdes — the fifty daughters of Danaus, king of Libya.^[4][1]

Two brothers

Danaus and his brother Aegyptus each fathered 50 children: Danaus had 50 daughters, Aegyptus 50 sons.^[4]

The wedding night

In the most common version, the daughters were forced to marry their cousins. Danaus commanded them to kill their husbands on their wedding night, and all but one, Hypermnestra, obeyed.^[4]

The punishment

The Danaïdes were condemned to spend eternity carrying water in a sieve or perforated jug.^[4]

Isonoe herself

Lists of the Danaïdes from Apollodorus and Hyginus differ greatly.^[4] One entry names Isonoe (or Isione, or Hesione) as mother of Orchomenus or Chryses by Zeus.^[4] That connection to Zeus is why her name suits a moon of Jupiter.^[1]

Numbered citations link to the sources list on the Isonoe overview page.