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ARGOS PANOPTES was a hundred-eyed giant who lived in the region of Argolis in the Peloponnese.

Once when Zeus was consorting with the Nymph Io, his wifeHera arrived on the scene. The god quickly transformed his lover into a white heifer, but the goddess was not deceived. She demanded the animal for a gift and set Argos Panoptes as its guard.

Zeus sent Hermes to surreptitiously rescue his lover. The god first tried to lull the giant to sleep with his music, but failing that, slew him with his sword. It was from this endeavour that he earned his familiar title Argeiphontes (literally “the slayer of Argos”).

Hera rewarded Argos for his service by placing his hundred eyes on the tail of her sacred bird, the peacock.