Io (mythology)

In Greek mythology, Io (IPA [ˈaɪoʊ] or [ˈiːoʊ]), (World Book «EYE oh») a priestess of Hera in Argos who was seduced by Zeus, who changed her into a heifer to escape detection. Her mistress Hera set ever-watchful Argus Panoptes to guard her, but Hermes was sent to distract the guardian and slay him. Io's father is generally given as Inachus, a river god credited with inaugurating the worship of Hera in the region of Argos.

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  Io with Zeus, painting by Giovanni Ambrogio Figino
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  Io with Zeus, painting by Correggio
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  Hermes, Io (as cow) and Argus, black-figure amphora, 540–530 BC