Io (Transformation)
heroPriestess of Hera transformed into a white cow by Zeus (or Hera), driven across the world by a gadfly until she reached Egypt.
The Myth
Zeus turned his lover into a cow to hide her from Hera — then Hera sent a gadfly to chase the cow across three continents. Io was a priestess of Hera at Argos whom Zeus desired. To conceal the affair, Zeus transformed her into a beautiful white heifer. Hera was not fooled and demanded the cow as a gift, setting hundred-eyed Argus Panoptes to guard her. After Hermes killed Argus, Hera sent a gadfly that drove Io mad with pain across Europe, through the Ionian Sea (named for her), across the Bosphorus (literally ox-ford), and finally to Egypt. There Zeus restored her human form, and she bore Epaphus, ancestor of Danaus, Perseus, and Heracles.
Parents
Children
Epaphus
Symbols
Fun Fact
Both the Ionian Sea and the Bosphorus (ox-ford) are named for Io's wanderings as a cow.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
Danaus
heroEgyptian-born king of Argos whose fifty daughters murdered their fifty husbands on their wedding...
Heracles
heroThe greatest hero of Greek mythology, son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene. Famous for his...
Heracles (Labours)
heroHeracles performed twelve seemingly impossible labours as penance for killing his family in a...
Perseus
heroThe legendary hero who slew the Gorgon Medusa and rescued Andromeda from a sea monster. Perseus...
Perseus (Hero)
heroPerseus was the demigod son of Zeus and Danaë who slew Medusa, rescued Andromeda, and founded the...
Argus Panoptes
creatureArgus Panoptes was a giant with a hundred eyes covering his body — the all-seeing watchman whom...
Io's Metamorphosis
conceptThe transformation of the priestess Io into a white heifer by Zeus, her torment by Hera's gadfly,...
Argo (Ship)
placeThe Argo was the ship built by Argus for Jason's quest — the first long-voyage ship in Greek myth,...
Hera
godQueen of the Olympian gods and goddess of marriage. Known for her jealous rages against Zeus's...
Hera Teleia
godAn epithet of Hera as goddess of marriage and its fulfilment, worshipped as the divine model of the...
Hermes
godThe swift messenger of the gods and guide of souls to the underworld. Hermes was the cleverest of...
Hermes (Messenger)
godHermes was the messenger god, guide of souls, patron of travellers and thieves — the most versatile...