-The 49 sisters who killed their 49 husbands
According to Greek mythology, two brothers named Danus and Egypt became kings in Africa. The former ruled over what is known as Libya while the latter claimed the fertile Nile Valley and named that country after himself.
Danaeus had fifty daughters, called the Danaids, while Egypt had fifty sons. But a dispute between the brothers forced King Danos to flee with his daughters to Argos in Greece.
Although Gilanor was king of Argos, he soon became concerned about the end of his rule, so he gave the crown to Danaus.
At that time, the sons of Egypt arrived in the city asking for peace between the two kingdoms and offering to marry their fifty cousins. Although Danos did not trust this offer, he accepted it, but secretly gave a dagger to each of his daughters, making them promise that they would kill their husbands on their wedding night.
All the Dnaïdians kept their promise except for Heparmnestra, the eldest sister, who spared her husband's life because he had respected her during the wedding night. The other sons of Egypt were buried in Argos, but their heads were transferred to the city of Lerna. Shortly after, King Danos withdrew from the throne for fear of his brother's actions.
The Danaeans were purged and their crimes were forgiven by order of Zeus, who had the support of Hermes and Athena.
Because of that massacre, Danos was unable to marry his daughters easily, so he was forced to resort to a kind of game with rewards in which the prizes were his daughters.
Up to this point there is only one version, but another version of the legend states that Lynceus, the only survivor of the fifty brothers, reconciled with his father-in-law Danus. The other version states that Lynceus killed his father-in-law and his 49 sisters-in-law out of revenge.
The fact is that after the death of the Danaides, the judges of Hell refused to cleanse Zeus and declared them guilty. The judges of Hell found the Danaids guilty of murdering their husbands.
They are condemned to constantly carry water into a bottomless barrel, forever. The only person who will be saved from eternal punishment is Hyperemnestra.
This theme is developed in Aeschylus's tragedy The Supplicants.
Greek myth
Source: websites