9.03.2019

Reading Notes: Ovid's Metamorphoses, Part A

Ovid's Metamorphoses: Io
Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated by Tony Kline


Zeus is super attracted to a woman named Io who he first sees returning from her father's stream. It was hot and sunny, and he told her that she should find shade in the woods where he would be there to keep her safe. He also boasted about how he was pretty much the greatest god. She apparently got creeped out, and started to run from him. She was able to get a good head start on him, so he covered the earth in fog to slow her down and caught up to her. Hera, Zeus's wife, was curious as to why there was a sudden fog since it was daytime. With her husband nowhere in sight, she had a gut feeling that he was cheating on her. She went to find him. Meanwhile, Zeus was anticipating Hera's arrival, and he turned Io into a cow. When Hera arrived, she asked about this good-looking cow, acting as if she didn't know what Zeus had been up to. Hera decided to keep the cow (Io) as a gift, and had Argus (who had 100 eyes) guard her. Io, as a cow, went to her father's stream to drink. She followed her father and sisters, longing for their affection. Without a voice, she was unable to cry out for help. Instead, she drew in the dirt what had happened. Her father was very upset when he found out, especially because now she wouldn't be able to marry and have kids. Because of all the commotion, Argus took Io away and claimed a spot on a mountain to where he can keep his eyes on her at all times. Zeus decides he kind of feels remorse for Io, and decides to send his son to go kill Argos. The son of Zeus brings his reed pipe along with him, and sits next to Argos hoping to make him fall asleep. Once Argos was asleep, the son of Zeus chopped his head off with a sword. Hera was furious by this, and dragged the cow (Io) back to Zeus. Io fell to her knees, and looked back at Zeus with sadness in her eyes. Zeus begged Hera to calm down, and basically told her that she wouldn't have to deal with Io again-kind of asking for forgiveness. Once Hera calms down, Io transforms back into her human self. Once transformed, she is hesitant to speak because she's afraid she'll still sound like a cow, but soon speaks. 

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