The Danaids are figures from Greek mythology, specifically the fifty daughters of Danaus, the king of Argos. They are known for their tragic story involving their marriage to the fifty sons of Aegyptus, their father's brother. To avoid this union, the Danaids fled and, upon being forced to marry, they killed their husbands on their wedding night, except for one sister, Hypermnestra, who spared her husband, Lynceus. As a punishment for their actions, the Danaids were condemned to spend eternity in the Underworld, where they were tasked with filling a leaky vessel with water. This eternal punishment symbolizes futility and the consequences of their defiance against their father's wishes and societal norms.