Io
heroIo was a priestess of Hera whom Zeus seduced and then transformed into a white cow to hide from his jealous wife — she wandered the world in torment.
The Myth
Zeus loved Io and turned her into a cow to conceal the affair. Hera, suspicious, demanded the cow as a gift and set Argus Panoptes to guard her. After Hermes killed Argus, Hera sent a gadfly to torment Io. She fled across the world — the Bosphorus ("ox-ford") is named for her crossing. She reached Egypt, where Zeus restored her human form. She bore him Epaphus, ancestor of Danaus, the Danaids, Perseus, and ultimately Heracles.
Parents
Inachus (river god)
Children
Epaphus (by Zeus)
Symbols
Fun Fact
The Bosphorus strait literally means "ox-ford" — named for Io's crossing in cow form.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
Argus Panoptes
creatureArgus Panoptes was a giant with a hundred eyes covering his body — the all-seeing watchman whom...
Hera
godQueen of the Olympian gods and goddess of marriage. Known for her jealous rages against Zeus's...
Heracles
heroThe greatest hero of Greek mythology, son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene. Famous for his...
Hermes
godThe swift messenger of the gods and guide of souls to the underworld. Hermes was the cleverest of...
Pan
godThe goat-legged god of wilderness, shepherds, and rustic music. Pan's sudden appearance caused...
Perseus
heroThe legendary hero who slew the Gorgon Medusa and rescued Andromeda from a sea monster. Perseus...