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Zeus fell in love with the beautiful Io and, fearing Hera's jealousy, turned his beloved into a snow-white cow. But the trick did not save Io. Hera immediately recognized the trick, demanded the cow as a gift — and Zeus dared not refuse. Thus, Io found herself in the power of the goddess, handed over to the watch of the hundred-eyed Argus, who knew no sleep. Deprived of human form and speech, Io suffered in silence, unable to tell the world about her torment.

Then Zeus summoned Hermes. The messenger of the gods lulled Argus to sleep with sweet words and, when all one hundred eyes closed, ended the guard’s life. Io was freed — but only for a moment. Hera, unwilling to yield, sent a monstrous gadfly. Its sting burned like hot iron, driving Io across lands and countries, giving her no peace.

In her mad flight, Io reached the distant northern shores, where Prometheus was chained to a rock. He prophesied to her: only in Egypt will relief come. Io continued her journey. And only on the banks of the Nile did Zeus restore her human form. There, her son Epaphus was born, future king of Egypt and ancestor of great heroes, including Hercules.

Moral:

In the crypt, fleeing from a problem only prolongs the pain — salvation comes from patience, time, and the right place to exit.