Io
Io 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 Legend of Io
A priestess of Hera at Argos, Io was loved by Zeus, who turned her into a white cow to hide the affair. Hera, suspicious, demanded the cow and set hundred-eyed Argus to guard her. Zeus sent Hermes, who lulled Argus to sleep with music and killed him. Hera then sent a stinging gadfly that drove Io across the world — through Greece, over the Styx, past Prometheus chained in the Caucasus, and finally to Egypt. There Zeus restored her human form with a touch, and she bore Epaphus, ancestor of Danaë, Perseus, and 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. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Io
🗡 herotransformation
Priestess of Hera transformed into a white cow by Zeus (or Hera), driven across the world by a gadfly until she reached Egypt.
Io
🌿 nymphPriestess turned white cow who roamed the earth
Io was a priestess of Hera transformed into a white cow by Zeus to hide their affair — she wandered in torment across the world before being restored in Egypt.
Wanderings of Io
💭 concepttransformation, exile
The myth of Io, priestess of Hera transformed into a cow by Zeus to hide their affair, who wandered the earth pursued by a gadfly until reaching Egypt.
Io's Metamorphosis
💭 concepttransformation, exile
The transformation of the priestess Io into a white heifer by Zeus, her torment by Hera's gadfly, and her restoration in Egypt — connecting Greek and Egyptian mythology.
Pasiphaë
🗡 heroQueen of Crete, mother of the Minotaur
Pasiphaë was the queen of Crete whom Poseidon cursed with an unnatural desire for a bull — the mother of the Minotaur and a sorceress in her own right.
Cadmus
🗡 heroFounder of Thebes who brought the alphabet to Greece
The Phoenician prince who founded Thebes, sowed dragon's teeth to raise an army, and gave Greece the gift of writing.
Alcmene
🗡 heroMother of Heracles
Alcmene was the mortal woman whom Zeus seduced by disguising himself as her husband — she bore Heracles, the greatest hero of Greek mythology.
Arcas
🗡 heroKingship, hunting, Arcadia
Eponymous founder and king of Arcadia who was nearly tricked into eating his own transformed mother
Iphigenia
🗡 heroPrincess sacrificed for the Trojan War
Iphigenia was Agamemnon's eldest daughter, sacrificed at Aulis to gain winds for Troy — or rescued at the last moment by Artemis and whisked to Tauris.
Phaea
🗡 heroNone recorded
Monstrous sow of Crommyon that terrorised the countryside until slain by Theseus
Ctesippus
🗡 heroNone recorded
Violent suitor from Same who threw an ox hoof at the disguised Odysseus
Lycaon
🗡 heroKing transformed into a wolf
Lycaon was the king of Arcadia who tested Zeus by serving him human flesh at a banquet — and was transformed into a wolf as punishment.