Mercury and Argus

This relief depicts the story of Mercury (Hermés) and Argus. The sacrifice of Argus liberated Io and allowed her to wander the earth, although tormented by a gadfly sent by Hera, until she reached the Ionian Sea, named after her, from where she swam to Egypt and gave birth to a love child of Zeus, according to some versions of the myth. Other interpretations say she changed back to human form, married king Telegonus and got worshipped as goddess Isis after her death.