Io
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.
The Myth of Io
Io, a priestess of Hera at Argos, was seduced by Zeus, who transformed her into a white cow to hide the affair. Hera saw through the deception and set hundred-eyed Argus to guard Io. Zeus sent Hermes to slay Argus — Hera placed Argus's eyes on the peacock's tail in tribute. Then Hera sent a gadfly to torment Io, driving her across the world. She crossed the strait later named the Bosphorus and wandered through the lands where Prometheus, chained in the Caucasus, prophesied her eventual freedom. Io reached Egypt, where Zeus restored her human form. She bore Epaphus, ancestor of Perseus, Heracles, and the royal line that ruled at Thebes and Mycenae.
Parents
Inachus (river god)
Children
Epaphus (by Zeus)
Symbols
Fun Fact
Both the Ionian Sea and the Bosphorus ("ox-ford") are named for Io — geography permanently marked by her bovine wandering.
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
🗡 heroPriestess transformed into a cow
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.
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.
Callisto
🌿 nymphNymph transformed into the Great Bear
Callisto was a companion of Artemis who was seduced by Zeus and transformed into a bear — placed in the sky as Ursa Major, the Great Bear constellation.
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.
Scylla
🌿 nymphBeautiful nymph transformed into a monster
Scylla was originally a beautiful sea nymph who was transformed into a six-headed monster by the jealous Circe or Amphitrite.
Penelope
🌿 nymphnature, pastoral
A mountain nymph of Arcadia who, in one tradition, was the mother of Pan by Hermes — distinct from Odysseus's famous wife.
Nomia
🌿 nymphpastures, vengeance
An Arcadian nymph who blinded the shepherd Daphnis when he broke his vow of fidelity to her.
Amphitrite
🌿 nymphQueen of the sea
Amphitrite was the Nereid who became queen of the sea as Poseidon's wife.
Philyra
🌿 nymphhealing, nature
An Oceanid nymph who bore the centaur Chiron after Kronos mated with her in the form of a horse.
Coronis
🌿 nymphlove, betrayal
A Thessalian nymph or princess beloved by Apollo, whose infidelity led to the birth of Asclepius, god of medicine.
Thetis
🌿 nymphSea nymph mother of Achilles
Thetis was a sea nymph so powerful that both Zeus and Poseidon desired her — until a prophecy warned her son would surpass his father.