Argus was a hundred-eyed
monster of Greek mythology and
guardian of
Hera, the Queen of Gods and the jealous wife of Zeus.
Hera dispatched
Argus to stand watch over the nymph Io a rival for
Zeus's affection
(the cow in the background is Io's transformation
in an unsuccessful
attempt to escape Hera). Zeus ordered Hermes
to rescue
Io. Hermes hypnotized Argus with his flute and beheaded
him. To commemorate
Argus's loyalty, the sad Hera adorned the
peacock's
tail with his eyes. |
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