Io

(Ἰώ) - An Argive princess and a devoted priestess of Hera whose tragic pursuit serves as a major pillar of Greek mythology. Zeus coupled with her under a thick, artificial cloud to hide from his wife, but when Hera investigated, Zeus hastily transformed Io into a beautiful white heifer. Hera saw through the trick, claimed the cow, and sent the hundred-eyed giant Argus and a stinging gadfly to torture her. Io was driven mad across the ancient world until she reached Egypt, where Zeus restored her to human form and she gave birth to Epaphus, founding the royal lines of Egypt, Crete, and Thebes.