In Greek mythology, Io (/ ˈaɪ.oʊ /; Ancient Greek: Ἰώ [iːɔ̌ː]) was one of the mortal lovers of Zeus. An Argive princess, she was an ancestor of many kings and heroes, such as Perseus, Cadmus, Heracles, Minos, Lynceus, Cepheus, and Danaus. The astronomer Simon Marius named a moon of Jupiter after Io in 1614.

Disguised into a cloud, Zeus made love to her. His jealous wife, however, Hera, learnt about this relationship and turned Io into a cow to keep her away from her husband. Io was about to suffer many misfortunes until she was finally turned into a woman again and have a normal life.

Zeus loved Io, but on account of Hera's jealousy, he metamorphosed her into a white cow. Hera thereupon asked and obtained the cow from Zeus, and placed her under the care of Argus Panoptes, who tied her to an olive tree in the grove of Hera at Mycenae.

Here are his most famous transformations: Persephone was seduced by Zeus when he took the shape of her abductor/husband, Hades. Kallisto of Arkadia (southern Greece) was seduced by Zeus in the form of Artemis. In anger, Artemis transformed her into a …

The story of Zeus, Hera, and Io has been passed down through the ages as a cautionary tale of love, betrayal, and revenge. It tells the story of an unsuspecting woman caught between two powerful forces – a jealous goddess and a powerful king.

Aug 8, 2023 · Io was an Argive priestess of Hera, the daughter of the river god Inachus or, in some accounts, of the Argive king Iasus. A lover of Zeus, Io was transformed into a cow when Zeus’ wife Hera discovered their affair.

Sep 7, 2020 · Io was one of Zeus’s many lovers, but her own son was among her least famous descendants. Keep reading to find out how one woman’s transformation into a cow gave rise to dynasties and connected disparate cultures! When Zeus sought to make Io his mistress, he transformed her into a white cow.

Jul 25, 2024 · Io, a Greek princess from Argos, was the lover of Zeus, the king of the gods. Zeus turned Io into a cow to protect her from the jealousy of his wife, Hera. Hera, suspect of Zeus’s actions, demanded the cow as a gift and had her constantly watched by Argus Panoptes, a giant with many eyes.

Apr 14, 2023 · In an effort to protect Io, Zeus transforms her into a cow and gives her to Hera as a gift. Hera, suspicious of the gift, places the cow under the watchful eye of Argus, a many-eyed giant. The story then follows Io’s journey as a cow and her eventual return to her human form with the help of Hermes. 3. In Ovid’s Metamorphoses

Quickly, Zeus changed Io into a cow. When Hera landed, all she found was an innocent looking Zeus standing next to a little white cow. "This little cow appeared out of nowhere," he told his wife, acting surprised.