Io

Io
"I've watched you all your life. I guided you to your family."
Species	Nymph
Alignment	Good
Origin	Argos
Relatives	Inachus (Father)
Status	Alive
Appearances	(2010) Clash of the Titans (2010) Clash of the Titans: The Videogame (2012) Wrath of the Titans (mentioned only)

Io is a major character of Clash of the Titans. She was portrayed by Gemma Arterton in the 2010 remake.

Mythology

Io was, in Greek mythology, a priestess of Hera in Argos, a nymph who was seduced by Zeus, who changed her into a heifer to escape detection. His wife Hera set ever-watchful Argus Panoptes to guard her, but Hermes was sent to distract the guardian and slay him. Heifer Io was loosed to roam the world, stung by a maddening gadfly sent by Hera, and wandered to Egypt, thus placing her descendant Belus in Egypt; his sons Cadmus and Danaus would then "return" to mainland Greece.

History

Clash of the Titans (2010)

When Perseus is imprisoned by Draco, he meets Io who tells him of his origin. Many years before, King Acrisius waged war against the gods, as a result of the Gods' ignorance and constant punishment of the people. To punish him, Zeus impersonated Acrisius and impregnated his wife, Queen Danae. As a result, Danae gives birth to Zeus' son, Perseus.

Acrisius, driven mad with rage, orders the execution of Dänae and the newborn baby and casts them into the sea in a coffin. As punishment for his continued defiance, Zeus also strikes Acrisius with lightning, transforming him into a monster. Io also reveals that she was cursed with immortality after refusing to give in to Poseidon's advances and has watched over Perseus his entire life, beginning with watching from ashore as his adoptive parents rescue him from the floating coffin, to the present, always protecting him, as he is prophesized to be the only one able to stand up to the Gods.