Why peacock feathers have so many eyes

All round was green, cool woodland. A gurgling river flowed through the whole area. So clear was its water that the pebbles on the river bed were visible. As the water splashed over the rocks, it sent up a fine misty spray that reached the trees along the banks.

The god of this river had a child named Io. It was natural for a girl brought up in such surroundings to be sweet and unspoiled. She was happiest wandering around the grove, beside the stream which her father ruled.

Jupiter, the king of the gods, was in the habit of visiting the earth once in a way. He chanced upon Io in the forest. He was so enchanted by her simple, lovable nature that he began to come often to talk to her. Jupiter appeared as a young boy so as to enjoy Io’s company. Io found him to be a good friend with whom she could chat and laugh.

Juno was Jupiter’s wife and the queen of the heavens. She was a selfish and jealous person who caused unhappiness. Her favourite was the peacock and her constant companion. She got curious about Jupiter’s frequent visits to the earth. Determined to find out the reason, she came down to the grove. When she saw Io, with her innocent beauty, she was furious. Jupiter sensed that Juno was going to harm Io. Before she could act, he changed Io into a white heifer.

Juno was not deceived. She, who was very sharp, knew the white heifer was Io. She asked Jupiter to give her the white heifer. Jupiter did not want to, but there was no reason for him to refuse her. Reluctantly, he gave Juno the heifer. As Juno walked away with the heifer, she whispered to herself. “Now that I have got you, I will have you watched.”

She made Argus, one her loyal servants, keep an eye on the heifer. This was easy because Argus had a hundred eyes. However exhausted he was, he never closed all of them at the same time. He always kept fifty of them open. With so many eyes watching her all the time, nothing Io did escaped him. Though she was tied to a tree during the night, she was free to roam about during the day, always watched by the faithful Argus, of course.

The transformation had confused Io. Instead of food, she had to nibble grass. She had to lie on the ground to sleep and drink water from the sparkling stream. She tried to talk to Argus but the only sound that emerged was ‘Moo’. When she looked into the river, she saw her horns. None of the nymphs in the water recognised her.

Even her father did not know her. When she went up to him, he stroked her back and gave her some fresh grass to eat. Io was distressed that she could not share her plight with anyone. She racked her brains till she got a bright idea. With her foot, she drew what had befallen her in the sand. The saddened father hugged the heifer and wept bitterly. This scene did not escape alert Argus. He moved his charge far away from the river.

Jupiter wanted very to help Io. He told his son, Mercury, to kill Argus. Mercury disguised himself as a young shepherd. He gathered a flock and settled himself at the foot of the hill. He pulled out a pipe and began to play on it. Argus was so struck by the melodious music that he invited Mercury up. “Come and share this space with me. Your flock can graze on these pastures.”

Mercury was waiting for just such an opportunity. He continued to play sweet songs, but failed to lull Argus to sleep. Always, always, fifty eyes would be open. One day, Argus asked Mercury where he had got his musical instrument from. Mercury narrated the story, in a droning, monotonous tone, deliberately dragging and stretching it unnecessarily.

This is the story, in brief. Pan, the god of the shepherds, saw the nymph Syrinx in the forest. She was very graceful and fleet-footed. With his goat’s head and man’s body, Pan frightened her so much that she fled. She came to a stream and appealed to the water nymphs for help. They drew her into the water. Instantly, a clump of reeds grew in that place.

Reaching out to catch Syrinx, Pan grabbed the reeds instead. Disappointed Pan let out a long sigh which ruffled the reeds and produced soft music. Pan gathered the reeds and made a pipe. This long tale had the desired effect. Even Argus, with his hundred eyes, could not keep awake.  The rambling story, told in the most boring fashion, made his eyes droop.  He was soon sound asleep. Mercury then drew his sword and cut off Argus’ head.

Juno was heart-broken. She fixed Argus’ eyes on the feathers of the peacock. We can see them to this day when the peacock spreads out its resplendent tail. As for Io, Juno held her responsible for all that had happened. She sent a gadfly to torment the poor white heifer. Though she tried desperately, Io could not get rid of the gadfly. She wandered far and wide. Finally, she reached Egypt, completely worn out.

She collapsed by the river Nile and beseeched the gods to save her. Jupiter was unable to bear Io’s pain. He pleaded with Juno to save her, promising never to speak to the girl again. So Juno turned the white heifer back into Io.