Argus

Family: Argive · Role: king · First appears: Apollodorus, Library 1.9

🌐 Also appears in: The Metamorphoses of Ovid (as Argus)

In Apollodorus, Library 1.9, Argus is a child of Phrixus. When Jason called on his help, Argus built the ship on Athena’s advice. At Colchis, he was with Jason and Medea when Medea drugged the dragon, took the Golden Fleece, and escaped with Jason aboard the Argo.

In Library 2.1, Argus is described as a son of Zeus and Niobe, while another account names Agenor as the father of Argus the All-seeing. He married Evadne and fathered Ecbasus, Piras, Epidaurus, and Criasus; with Ismene, daughter of Asopus, he had Iasus. Argus also slew the sleeping Echidna, who carried off passers-by.

Hera requested the cow Io from Zeus and set Argus the All-seeing to guard it. Zeus ordered Hermes to steal the cow, and when Hermes could not do so secretly, he killed Argus “by the cast of a stone.”

Relationship record

Life events

• Medea drugs the dragon, takes the Golden Fleece, and escapes with Jason.(Apollodorus, Library 1.9 · 📍 Colchis)
  • With: Jason Medea Aeetes
  • “But before he could do so, Medea brought Jason by night to the fleece, and having lulled to sleep by her drugs the dragon that guarded it, she possessed herself of the fleece and in Jason's company came to the Argo.”
• Hermes killed Argus while stealing the cow Io guarded.(Apollodorus, Library 2.1)
  • With: Hermes
  • “But Zeus ordered Hermes to steal the cow, and as Hermes could not do it secretly because Hierax had blabbed, he killed Argus by the cast of a stone;”

Apollodorus, Library 1.9

• parent: Phrixus “And Phrixus had children by Chalciope, to wit, Argus, Melas , Phrontis, and Cytisorus.”
• with Jason (interaction) “Jason called in the help of Argus, son of Phrixus; and Argus, by Athena's advice, built a ship”

Apollodorus, Library 2.1

• parent: Zeus “But Niobe had by Zeus ( and she was the first mortal woman with whom Zeus cohabited) a son Argus, and also, so says Acusilaus, a son Pelasgus”
• parent: Niobe “But Niobe had by Zeus ( and she was the first mortal woman with whom Zeus cohabited) a son Argus, and also, so says Acusilaus, a son Pelasgus”
• married with Evadne “having married Evadne, daughter of Strymon and Neaera, he begat Ecbasus, Piras, Epidaurus , and Criasus”
• child: Ecbasus “having married Evadne, daughter of Strymon and Neaera, he begat Ecbasus, Piras, Epidaurus , and Criasus”
• parent: Agenor “Agenor had a son Argus, the one who is called the All-seeing.”
• married with Ismene “Argus and Ismene, daughter of Asopus, had a son Iasus”
• child: Iasus “Argus and Ismene, daughter of Asopus, had a son Iasus”
• with Echidna (Argus killed Echidna.) “Echidna, daughter of Tartarus and Earth, who used to carry off passers-by, was caught asleep and slain by Argus.”
• employer: Hera “Hera requested the cow from Zeus for herself and set Argus the All-seeing to guard it.”
• with Hermes (interaction) “Zeus ordered Hermes to steal the cow, and as Hermes could not do it secretly because Hierax had blabbed, he killed Argus by the cast of a stone”
• child: Epidaurus “he begat Ecbasus, Piras, Epidaurus , and Criasus”
• enemies with Echidna “Echidna, daughter of Tartarus and Earth, who used to carry off passers-by, was caught asleep and slain by Argus.”
• enemies with Hermes “he killed Argus by the cast of a stone”
• child: Piras “he begat Ecbasus, Piras, Epidaurus , and Criasus”
• child: Criasus “he begat Ecbasus, Piras, Epidaurus , and Criasus”

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Extracted from the original text of Greek Mythology. Made with Rho MD.