Aetiology and Justice in the Danaid Trilogy

Abstract

The Danaid trilogy showcased the aition of the birth of the Danaans, the heroic Greeks of epic poetry. In the Suppliant maidens, Danaus and his daughters are staged as basically positive characters, in particular through the repeated emphasis on their proper religious conduct, presenting a marked contrast to their adversaries, who are depicted as blasphemous. The action hints at a parallel to the experience from the Persian invasion with its notorious destruction of Greek sanctuaries. The reconstruction of the trilogy should aim for a full redemption in legal and moral terms of the problematic later scenario. A justification of the wedding night slaughter is possible if the Danaids are removed by force from the guardianship of their father, making the marriage illegal, while the latter is allowed to keep his life and freedom, similar to Laërtes in the Odyssey.