ARGUS PANOPTES (hundred-eyed giant herdsman)
Monster · giant with hundred eyes in Greek mythology
Argus Panoptes, a giant born of the earth, served as a formidable herdsman and watchman.1,2 Some accounts name him the son of Aristor, while others link his lineage to Agenor or Inachus, though he was fundamentally a creature of the soil.3,1 He was often described as a phantom or a savage force, a presence that felt more like a haunting than a man.1,4
Zeus, the ruler of the gods, commanded the god Hermes, son of Maia, to kill Argus.5,6 From his perch on a lofty mountain, Argus could look about on all sides, ensuring that Io could not escape his watchful gaze.3,7 He treated the heifer with undeserving severity, confining her at night by tying a cord around her neck, though he allowed her to graze during the daylight hours.3
The kill was sudden, as a single night took possession of his entire hundred eyes, leaving them all extinguished in death.2,8 Despite his death, the earth did not conceal him, for he passed from the shades to hound Prometheus, stinging the titan like a gad-fly.1 This persistence in the underworld marked him as a relentless pursuer, even after his body lay still.1
The death of Argus resulted in a lasting change to the natural world, as Hera took his eyes and placed them on the feathers of her own bird.8,9 While two of his eyes slept in turns during his life, keeping the others awake to maintain duty, their final rest was permanent.3 His figure was later engraved in gold on the surface of Turnus's shield, preserving his image in metal.10
The codex facts behind this entry
Argus Panoptes was a watchman assigned to guard Io, possessing eyes that never tired and allowing him to see in all directions. Bacchylides 19 +1 Argus is described as an earth-born herdsman. Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 640-686 He is described as a phantom of the earth-born Argus. Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 566-574
Appearance
He is a giant with a hundred eyes on his head, which he used to watch his prey. Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 566-574 +2
Powers
From his mountain perch, Argus can look about on all sides. Ovid Met. 1.601-688 (2) +1 Two of his eyes sleep in turns while the others remain awake. Ovid Met. 1.601-688 (2)
In the myths
Zeus commanded Hermes to kill Argus. Ovid Met. 1.601-688 (5) Argus was killed, an event that triggered the coloring of peacock feathers. Ovid Met. 2.401-465 (9) Argus carried the daughter away from her father to distant pastures. Ovid Met. 1.601-688 (4) The daughter of Cronus took the eyes from Argus and placed them on the feathers of her own bird, filling its tail with starry gems. Ovid Met. 1.713-723 (2) He was assigned by a goddess to guard Io. Ovid Met. 1.601-688 (2) He confines Io and ties a cord around her neck at night. Ovid Met. 1.601-688 (2) He allows Io to graze during the daylight hours. Ovid Met. 1.601-688 (2) He pursued Io with untempered rage. Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 640-686 He stings Prometheus like a gad-fly. Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 566-574 He watches Prometheus with a crafty gaze. Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 566-574
Fate
Argus Panoptes died suddenly, and a single night took possession of his entire hundred eyes, leaving him dead with all of them extinguished. Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 640-686 +1 Argus was ordered to be put to death by the ruler of the gods. Ovid Met. 1.601-688 (5) The earth does not conceal him even in death. Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 566-574 The death of Argus resulted in the peacocks being newly tinted. Ovid Met. 2.401-465 (9)
