Fresco with Io; Argos and Mercury (Io; Argos et Mercure)The painting refers to the myth of Mercury; Argus (Argos) and Io; found in The Metamorphoses written by Ovid.Jupiter (Zeus) falls in love with Io; who is a priestess of Juno. But Jupiter's wife Juno investigates and finds out about their relationship. Jupiter has to transform Io into a beautiful; white heifer in order to save her from Hera's wrath. Juno demands the heifer as a present and puts Io under the guard of Argus Panoptes; her shepherd. Jupiter commands his son Mercury (Hermes) to set Io free by lulling Argus to sleep with an enchanted flute. Mercury; disguised as a shepherd with a herd of stolen sheep; is invited by Argus to his camp. Mercury charms him with lullabies and then cuts his head off.- 60-79 AD (fourth style)Painted plasterFrom Pompeii (Italy) Tempio di Iside; ekklesiasterionMuseo Archeologico Nazionale. Naples.2018