Mercury and Argus

myminifactory

This relief tells the story of Mercury (Hermés) and Argus. Argus was Hera's servant, responsible for guarding Io, a beautiful priestess who had been turned into a cow by Hera after being seduced by Zeus in cloud form. Hera's task was to keep Io chained to the sacred olive tree at the Argive Heraion. Zeus' solution was to send Mercury to kill Argus and free Io. Mercury, disguised as a shepherd, used his charms to put Argus' eyes to sleep before killing him with a stone. The death of Argus allowed Io to escape, but she was pursued by a gadfly sent by Hera until she reached the Ionian Sea. From there, Io swam to Egypt and gave birth to Zeus' love child, according to one version of the myth. In another interpretation, Io changed back into human form, married king Telegonus, and was worshipped as the goddess Isis after her death.