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'''ARGOS (or Argus) PANOPTES''' was a hundred-eyed giant of Argos in the Peloponnese.
Once when Zeus was consorting with the Nymph Io, Hera suddenly came upon them. The god quickly transformed his lover into a white heifer. The goddess was not deceived and craftily demanded the animal from her husband as a gift. She then appointed Argos Panoptes to guard the heifer.
Zeus sent Hermes to rescue his lover. The god first tried to lull the giant to sleep with his music, but failing that, despatched him with his sword. It was from this endeavour that he earned the title Argeiphontes (the slayer of Argos).
Hera nevertheless rewarded Argos for his service by placing his hundred eyes on the tail of the peacock, her sacred bird.


Greek Name: ArgoV PanopthV
Transliteration: Argos Panoptês
Latin Spelling: Argus Panoptes
Translation: All-Eyed One of Argos (pan, opsei)
[[Image:http://www.theoi.com/image/img_argos.jpg]]
'''ENCYCLOPEDIA'''
ARGUS (Argos), surnamed Panoptes. His parentage is stated differently, and his father is called Agenor, Arestor, Inachus, or Argus, whereas some accounts described him as an Autochthon. (Apollod. ii. 1, 2, &c.; Ov. Met. i. 264.) He derived his surname, Panoptes, the all-seeing, from his possessing a hundred eyes, some of which were always awake. He was of superhuman strength, and after he had slain a fierce bull which ravaged Arcadia, a Satyr who robbed and violated persons, the serpent Echidna, which rendered the roads unsafe, and the murderers of Apis, who was according to some accounts his father, Hera appointed him guardian of the cow into which Io had been metamorphosed. (Comp. Schol. ad Eurip. Phoen. 1151, 1213.) Zeus commissioned Hermes to carry off the cow, and Hermes accomplished the task, according to some accounts, by stoning Argus to death, or according to others, by sending him to sleep by the sweetness of his play on the flute and then cutting off his head. Hera transplanted his eyes to the tail of the peacock, her favourite bird. (Aeschyl. Prom. ; Apollod. Ov. ll. cc.)
'''Source:''' Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. C19th Classics Encyclopedia
"[Title of Hermes] Argeiphontes (Slayer of Argos). According to Hesiod’s tale he [Hermes] slew [Argos] the herdsman of Io." - Homerica, Aegimius Frag 6 (from Scholiast on Homer's Iliad 2.24)
"And [Hera] set a watcher upon her [Io], great and strong Argos, who with four eyes looks every way. And the goddess stirred in him unwearying strength: sleep never fell upon his eyes; but he kept sure watch always." - Homerica, Aegimius Frag 5 (from Scholiast on Euripides, Phoenicians 1116
"[Io tells her story to Prometheus:] 'At once my shape was changed [into a cow by Zeus], my mind distorted. Horned, as you now see, stung by the gadfly’s stabbing goad, convulsed and mad, I rushed on, to the crystal stream of Kerkhnaia and the spring of Lerna; I was followed by Argos, a giant herdsman of ungoverned rage, who watched my every step with his ten thousand eyes. A sudden, unexpected stroke robbed him of life. I, gadfly-maddened, still am driven from land to land, lashed by this god-appointed scourge." - Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 672
"[Io in her wanderings:] 'The gadfly stings me again. Oh, oh! I see the ghost of Argos, the earth-born herdsman with a thousand eyes - gods! Keep him away! He was killed, but no earth can hide him; he follows me with his crafty gaze; he escapes from his grave to hound me without mercy, and drives me starving along the sandy shores; while he clear music of wax-bound pipes fills my years with a tune that longs for sleep." - Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 566
"Chorus: Is there a story told that here in Argos once Io was keeper of the keys of Hera’s temple?
King: That she was, certainly; the story is well known.
Chorus: And to they add that Zeus was stung with love for her?
King: Yes; and his love was known to Hera’s jealousy.
Chorus: What was the outcome of this royal feud?
King: A cow that was a woman, whom the Argive goddess changed.
Chorus: And Zeus - was he not drawn to seek her?
King: So they say, taking upon him, suitably, the form of a bull.
Chorus: And what did Hera then - determined as she is?
King: Set an all-seeing guard to keep watch on the cow.
Chorus: And who was this all-seeing herdsman of one beast?
King: Argos, offspring of Ge (Earth), whom Hermes killed." - Aeschylus, Suppliants 306
"The son of Ekbasos [son of Argos, son of Zeus and Niobe] was Agenor, and his son was Argos surnamed Panoptes. This man had eyes all over his body. He was extremely powerful, and killed the bull that raged through Arkadia whose hide he used as a cloak. He also ambushed and slew and Satyros who was hurting the Arkadians by stealing their herds. It is also said that he waited until Ekhidna fell asleep, and then killed her. She was a daughter of Tartaros and Ge, who would kidnap travellers passing by. Argos also avenged the murder of Apis by slaying the guilty pair, Thelxion and Telkhis …
Zeus seduced Io while she was a priestess of Hera. When Hera discovered them, Zeus touched the girl, changed her into a white cow, and swore that he hand not had sex with her …
Hera demanded the cow from Zeus, and assigned Argos Panoptes as its guard. Pherekydes says that this one was Arestor’s son, but Asklepiades says he was a descendant of Inakhos. Kerkops calls him a son of Argos and Asopos’ daughter Ismene [and so an uncle of Io], while Akousilaus says he was Earth-Born.) Argos tied the cow to an olive tree in the grove of the Mykenaians. Zeus instructed Hermes to steal her, and Hermes, unable to sneak her out because Hierax had told on him, killed Argos with a stone. From this came Hermes’ surname Argeiphontes." - Apollodorus, The Library 2.4
"There [depicted on the quiver of Herakles] Hermes was, storm-footed Son of Zeus, laying huge Argos nigh to Inakhos' streams, Argos, whose sentinel eyes in turn took sleep." - Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 10.190
"The fair-crowned lady Mykene. She is said to have been the daughter of Inakhos and the wife of Arestor in the poem which the Greeks call the Great Eoeae [Arestor is the father of Argos Panoptes according to Apollodorus above, so presumably Mykene was called his mother]." - Pausanias, Guide to Greece 2.16.4
"From Inachus and Argia [was born] Io. Jupiter [Zeus] loved and embraced Io, and changed her to heifer form so that Juno [Hera] would not recognize her. When Juno [Hera] found out, she sent Argus, who had gleaming eyes all around to guard her. Mercurius [Hermes], at Jove’s command, killed him." - Hyginus, Fabulae 145
"Juppiter [Zeus] [in his seduction of the Naias Io] had fore-sensed his spouse’s [Hera's] visit and transformed poor Inachis [Io] into a sleek white heifer (lovely still although a cow). Saturnia [Hera], against her will, admired the creature and asked whose she was, and whence she came and to what herd belonged, pretending not to know the truth. He lied - ‘The earth had brought her forth’ - so to deflect questions about her birth. Then Saturnia [Hera] begged the heifer as a gift. What should he do? Too cruel to give his darling! Not to give - suspicious; shame persuades but love dissuades. Love would have won; but then - if he refused his wife (his sister too) so slight a gift, a cow, it well might seem no cow at all! The goddess won her rival, but distrust lingered and still she feared her husband’s tricks, till, for safe-keeping, she had given the cow to Arestorides [Argos] - Argus of the hundred eyes, all watching and on duty round his head, save two which took in turn their sleep and rest. Whichever way he stood he looked at Io, Io before his eyes behind his back! By day he let her graze, but when the sun sank down beneath the earth he stabled her and tied - for shame! - a halter round her neck. She browsed on leaves of trees and bitter weeds, and for her bed, poor thing, lay on the ground, not always grassy, and drank the muddy streams; and when, to plead with Argus, she would try to stretch her arms, she had no arms to stretch. Would she complain, a moo came from her throat, a startling sound ... [She nevertheless managed to reveal herself to her father and sisters but] as they thus grieved, Argus, star-eyed, drove off daughter from father, hurrying her away to distant pastures. Then himself, afar, high on a mountain top sat sentinel to keep his scrutiny on every side. But now heaven’s master [Zeus] could no more endure Phoronis’ [Io’s] distress, and summoned his son [Hermes], whom the bright shining Pleias [Maia] bore, and charged him to accomplish Argus’ death. Promptly he fastened on his ankle-wings, grasped in his fist the wand that charms to sleep, put on his magic cap, and thus arrayed Jove’s [Zeus’] son [Hermes] sprang from his father’s citadel down to earth. There he removed his cap, laid by his wings; only his wand he kept. A herdsman now, he drove a flock of goats through the green byways, gathered as he went, and played his pipes of reed. The strange sweet skill charmed Juno’s [Hera’s] guardian. ‘My friend’, he called, ‘whoever you are, well might you sit with me here on this rock, and see how cool the shade extends congenial for a shepherd’s seat.’ So Atlantiades [Hermes] joined him, and with many a tale he stayed the passing hours and on his reeds played soft refrains to lull the watching eyes. But Argus fought to keep at bay the charms of slumber and, though many of his eyes were closed in sleep, still many kept their guard. He asked too by what means this new design (for new it was), the pipe of reeds, was found. Then the god told this story [of Pan and his pursuit of the Nymphe Syrinx] … The tale remained untold; for Cyllenius [Hermes] saw all Argus’ eyelids closed and every eye vanquished in sleep. He stopped and with his wand, his magic wand, soothed the tired resting eyes and sealed their slumber; quick then with his sword he struck off the nodding head and from the rock threw it all bloody, spattering the cliff with gore. Argus lay dead; so many eyes, so bright quenched, and all hundred shrouded in one night. Saturnia [Hera] retrieved those eyes to set in place among the feathers of her bird [the peacock] and filled his tail with starry jewels." - Ovid, Metamorphoses 1.624
"Her [Hera's] peacocks, painted bright with Argus‘ eyes, lately slain." - Ovid, Metamorphoses 2.531
"[Depicted on the shield of Turnus was] Io, now changed to a heifer, with horns uplifted, and fought-haired - a potent symbol; also her guardian, Argus, and Inachus, her father, pouring out his stream from a graven pitcher." - Virgil, Aeneid 7.791
"I remained rooted with eyes intent upon her, like those of Argus upon the strange horns of Inachus’ child [Io]." - Propertius, Elegies 1.3
"She [Hera] accosts Jove [Zeus] thus: ‘Give me the untamed heifer that feeds on Argos’ fertile plains [the maiden Io who Zeus had transformed into a heifer to hide her from Hera] and is just showing the horns of the infant moon; give her as a gift to thy dear bride. Myself now will I choose fit pastures and choicest fountains for my pet.’ What ruse could Jove [Zeus] find to say her nay? What trickery, once found, could he have maintained? She, possessed of the gift, straightway sets Argus on guard; Argus as guardian pleases her, for everywhere on his head are sleepless eyes, as though a Lydian bride should bedeck her web with flecks of purple. At Argus’ bidding must she go on paths unknown, over rocks, through monster-haunted wilds, tarrying oft, alas! And struggling with prayers and words fast locked within her breast ... But she, when her limbs trembled aweary of her wandering or when now chilly evening sped down from heaven’s height - ah! How often laid she her body on a stone, or when long thirst made her faint, what pools did her lips drink, what pastures graze, how oft did her white shoulders quail before the lash! Nay, too, as daring death she planned to leap from some lofty height, swift did Argus drive her down to the vale beneath, and cruelly saved her at his queen’s behest: when on a sudden a hollow flute pipes out a measure of Arcady, and the winged Cyllenian [Hermes], hastening to obey his sire, draws nigh, and tuning his oft reed to melody cries, ‘Wither away? Where roamest thou? Ho there! Give heed to my music!’ Following Argus close he notes that all his eyes are already languishing and seeking after sweet slumber, and in the midst of his song out he flashes his swift blade." - Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 4.365
"[The city of Argos] far-famed sceptre of great Phoroneus … there thou didst ruthelessly cast on sleep the guardian of the Pharian heifer [Argos Panoptes the guardian of Io]." - Statius, Thebaid 1.253
"Next in order [of the images at Nemea] is seen ... Io, already prone [transformed into a cow] and sorrow of her sire, sees behind her back Argus starred with eyes that no setting." - Statius, Thebaid 6.275
"The thousand eyes of sacred Argus, which he kept but in alternate watchfulness, nor even waked in all his frame at once." - Statius, Silvae 5.4.1
"You are not like a son of Zeus ... you did not kill that unhappy lover bold Orion, nor Hera’s guardian Argos, the cowkeeper, a son of Earth Gaia (Earth) so fertile in evil, the spy on Zeus in his weddings with horned cattle!" - Nonnus, Dionysiaca 20.35
'''Sources:'''
    * Homerica, The Aegimius - Greek Epic BC
    * Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound - Greek Tragedy C6th-5th BC
    * Aeschylus, Suppliants - Greek Tragedy C6th-5th BC
    * Apollodorus, The Library - Greek Mythography C2nd BC
    * Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy - Greek Epic C4th AD
    * Pausanias, Guide to Greece - Greek Geography C2nd AD
    * Hyginus, Fabulae - Latin Mythography C2nd AD
    * Virgil, Aeneid - Latin Epic C1st BC
    * Ovid, Metamorphoses - Latin Epic C1st BC - C1st AD
    * Propertius, Elegies - Latin Elegy C1st BC
    * Valerius Flaccus, The Argonautica - Latin Epic C1st AD
    * Statius, Thebaid - Latin Epic C1st AD
    * Statius, Silvae - Latin Epic C1st AD
    * Nonnos, Dionysiaca - Greek Epic C5th AD
Other references not currently quoted here: Nonnos Dionysiaca 13.27

Revision as of 17:16, 18 April 2007

ARGOS (or Argus) PANOPTES was a hundred-eyed giant of Argos in the Peloponnese. Once when Zeus was consorting with the Nymph Io, Hera suddenly came upon them. The god quickly transformed his lover into a white heifer. The goddess was not deceived and craftily demanded the animal from her husband as a gift. She then appointed Argos Panoptes to guard the heifer. Zeus sent Hermes to rescue his lover. The god first tried to lull the giant to sleep with his music, but failing that, despatched him with his sword. It was from this endeavour that he earned the title Argeiphontes (the slayer of Argos). Hera nevertheless rewarded Argos for his service by placing his hundred eyes on the tail of the peacock, her sacred bird.


Greek Name: ArgoV PanopthV Transliteration: Argos Panoptês Latin Spelling: Argus Panoptes Translation: All-Eyed One of Argos (pan, opsei)

File:Http://www.theoi.com/image/img argos.jpg

ENCYCLOPEDIA

ARGUS (Argos), surnamed Panoptes. His parentage is stated differently, and his father is called Agenor, Arestor, Inachus, or Argus, whereas some accounts described him as an Autochthon. (Apollod. ii. 1, 2, &c.; Ov. Met. i. 264.) He derived his surname, Panoptes, the all-seeing, from his possessing a hundred eyes, some of which were always awake. He was of superhuman strength, and after he had slain a fierce bull which ravaged Arcadia, a Satyr who robbed and violated persons, the serpent Echidna, which rendered the roads unsafe, and the murderers of Apis, who was according to some accounts his father, Hera appointed him guardian of the cow into which Io had been metamorphosed. (Comp. Schol. ad Eurip. Phoen. 1151, 1213.) Zeus commissioned Hermes to carry off the cow, and Hermes accomplished the task, according to some accounts, by stoning Argus to death, or according to others, by sending him to sleep by the sweetness of his play on the flute and then cutting off his head. Hera transplanted his eyes to the tail of the peacock, her favourite bird. (Aeschyl. Prom. ; Apollod. Ov. ll. cc.)

Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. C19th Classics Encyclopedia

"[Title of Hermes] Argeiphontes (Slayer of Argos). According to Hesiod’s tale he [Hermes] slew [Argos] the herdsman of Io." - Homerica, Aegimius Frag 6 (from Scholiast on Homer's Iliad 2.24)

"And [Hera] set a watcher upon her [Io], great and strong Argos, who with four eyes looks every way. And the goddess stirred in him unwearying strength: sleep never fell upon his eyes; but he kept sure watch always." - Homerica, Aegimius Frag 5 (from Scholiast on Euripides, Phoenicians 1116

"[Io tells her story to Prometheus:] 'At once my shape was changed [into a cow by Zeus], my mind distorted. Horned, as you now see, stung by the gadfly’s stabbing goad, convulsed and mad, I rushed on, to the crystal stream of Kerkhnaia and the spring of Lerna; I was followed by Argos, a giant herdsman of ungoverned rage, who watched my every step with his ten thousand eyes. A sudden, unexpected stroke robbed him of life. I, gadfly-maddened, still am driven from land to land, lashed by this god-appointed scourge." - Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 672

"[Io in her wanderings:] 'The gadfly stings me again. Oh, oh! I see the ghost of Argos, the earth-born herdsman with a thousand eyes - gods! Keep him away! He was killed, but no earth can hide him; he follows me with his crafty gaze; he escapes from his grave to hound me without mercy, and drives me starving along the sandy shores; while he clear music of wax-bound pipes fills my years with a tune that longs for sleep." - Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 566

"Chorus: Is there a story told that here in Argos once Io was keeper of the keys of Hera’s temple? King: That she was, certainly; the story is well known. Chorus: And to they add that Zeus was stung with love for her? King: Yes; and his love was known to Hera’s jealousy. Chorus: What was the outcome of this royal feud? King: A cow that was a woman, whom the Argive goddess changed. Chorus: And Zeus - was he not drawn to seek her? King: So they say, taking upon him, suitably, the form of a bull. Chorus: And what did Hera then - determined as she is? King: Set an all-seeing guard to keep watch on the cow. Chorus: And who was this all-seeing herdsman of one beast? King: Argos, offspring of Ge (Earth), whom Hermes killed." - Aeschylus, Suppliants 306



"The son of Ekbasos [son of Argos, son of Zeus and Niobe] was Agenor, and his son was Argos surnamed Panoptes. This man had eyes all over his body. He was extremely powerful, and killed the bull that raged through Arkadia whose hide he used as a cloak. He also ambushed and slew and Satyros who was hurting the Arkadians by stealing their herds. It is also said that he waited until Ekhidna fell asleep, and then killed her. She was a daughter of Tartaros and Ge, who would kidnap travellers passing by. Argos also avenged the murder of Apis by slaying the guilty pair, Thelxion and Telkhis … Zeus seduced Io while she was a priestess of Hera. When Hera discovered them, Zeus touched the girl, changed her into a white cow, and swore that he hand not had sex with her … Hera demanded the cow from Zeus, and assigned Argos Panoptes as its guard. Pherekydes says that this one was Arestor’s son, but Asklepiades says he was a descendant of Inakhos. Kerkops calls him a son of Argos and Asopos’ daughter Ismene [and so an uncle of Io], while Akousilaus says he was Earth-Born.) Argos tied the cow to an olive tree in the grove of the Mykenaians. Zeus instructed Hermes to steal her, and Hermes, unable to sneak her out because Hierax had told on him, killed Argos with a stone. From this came Hermes’ surname Argeiphontes." - Apollodorus, The Library 2.4

"There [depicted on the quiver of Herakles] Hermes was, storm-footed Son of Zeus, laying huge Argos nigh to Inakhos' streams, Argos, whose sentinel eyes in turn took sleep." - Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 10.190

"The fair-crowned lady Mykene. She is said to have been the daughter of Inakhos and the wife of Arestor in the poem which the Greeks call the Great Eoeae [Arestor is the father of Argos Panoptes according to Apollodorus above, so presumably Mykene was called his mother]." - Pausanias, Guide to Greece 2.16.4

"From Inachus and Argia [was born] Io. Jupiter [Zeus] loved and embraced Io, and changed her to heifer form so that Juno [Hera] would not recognize her. When Juno [Hera] found out, she sent Argus, who had gleaming eyes all around to guard her. Mercurius [Hermes], at Jove’s command, killed him." - Hyginus, Fabulae 145

"Juppiter [Zeus] [in his seduction of the Naias Io] had fore-sensed his spouse’s [Hera's] visit and transformed poor Inachis [Io] into a sleek white heifer (lovely still although a cow). Saturnia [Hera], against her will, admired the creature and asked whose she was, and whence she came and to what herd belonged, pretending not to know the truth. He lied - ‘The earth had brought her forth’ - so to deflect questions about her birth. Then Saturnia [Hera] begged the heifer as a gift. What should he do? Too cruel to give his darling! Not to give - suspicious; shame persuades but love dissuades. Love would have won; but then - if he refused his wife (his sister too) so slight a gift, a cow, it well might seem no cow at all! The goddess won her rival, but distrust lingered and still she feared her husband’s tricks, till, for safe-keeping, she had given the cow to Arestorides [Argos] - Argus of the hundred eyes, all watching and on duty round his head, save two which took in turn their sleep and rest. Whichever way he stood he looked at Io, Io before his eyes behind his back! By day he let her graze, but when the sun sank down beneath the earth he stabled her and tied - for shame! - a halter round her neck. She browsed on leaves of trees and bitter weeds, and for her bed, poor thing, lay on the ground, not always grassy, and drank the muddy streams; and when, to plead with Argus, she would try to stretch her arms, she had no arms to stretch. Would she complain, a moo came from her throat, a startling sound ... [She nevertheless managed to reveal herself to her father and sisters but] as they thus grieved, Argus, star-eyed, drove off daughter from father, hurrying her away to distant pastures. Then himself, afar, high on a mountain top sat sentinel to keep his scrutiny on every side. But now heaven’s master [Zeus] could no more endure Phoronis’ [Io’s] distress, and summoned his son [Hermes], whom the bright shining Pleias [Maia] bore, and charged him to accomplish Argus’ death. Promptly he fastened on his ankle-wings, grasped in his fist the wand that charms to sleep, put on his magic cap, and thus arrayed Jove’s [Zeus’] son [Hermes] sprang from his father’s citadel down to earth. There he removed his cap, laid by his wings; only his wand he kept. A herdsman now, he drove a flock of goats through the green byways, gathered as he went, and played his pipes of reed. The strange sweet skill charmed Juno’s [Hera’s] guardian. ‘My friend’, he called, ‘whoever you are, well might you sit with me here on this rock, and see how cool the shade extends congenial for a shepherd’s seat.’ So Atlantiades [Hermes] joined him, and with many a tale he stayed the passing hours and on his reeds played soft refrains to lull the watching eyes. But Argus fought to keep at bay the charms of slumber and, though many of his eyes were closed in sleep, still many kept their guard. He asked too by what means this new design (for new it was), the pipe of reeds, was found. Then the god told this story [of Pan and his pursuit of the Nymphe Syrinx] … The tale remained untold; for Cyllenius [Hermes] saw all Argus’ eyelids closed and every eye vanquished in sleep. He stopped and with his wand, his magic wand, soothed the tired resting eyes and sealed their slumber; quick then with his sword he struck off the nodding head and from the rock threw it all bloody, spattering the cliff with gore. Argus lay dead; so many eyes, so bright quenched, and all hundred shrouded in one night. Saturnia [Hera] retrieved those eyes to set in place among the feathers of her bird [the peacock] and filled his tail with starry jewels." - Ovid, Metamorphoses 1.624

"Her [Hera's] peacocks, painted bright with Argus‘ eyes, lately slain." - Ovid, Metamorphoses 2.531

"[Depicted on the shield of Turnus was] Io, now changed to a heifer, with horns uplifted, and fought-haired - a potent symbol; also her guardian, Argus, and Inachus, her father, pouring out his stream from a graven pitcher." - Virgil, Aeneid 7.791

"I remained rooted with eyes intent upon her, like those of Argus upon the strange horns of Inachus’ child [Io]." - Propertius, Elegies 1.3

"She [Hera] accosts Jove [Zeus] thus: ‘Give me the untamed heifer that feeds on Argos’ fertile plains [the maiden Io who Zeus had transformed into a heifer to hide her from Hera] and is just showing the horns of the infant moon; give her as a gift to thy dear bride. Myself now will I choose fit pastures and choicest fountains for my pet.’ What ruse could Jove [Zeus] find to say her nay? What trickery, once found, could he have maintained? She, possessed of the gift, straightway sets Argus on guard; Argus as guardian pleases her, for everywhere on his head are sleepless eyes, as though a Lydian bride should bedeck her web with flecks of purple. At Argus’ bidding must she go on paths unknown, over rocks, through monster-haunted wilds, tarrying oft, alas! And struggling with prayers and words fast locked within her breast ... But she, when her limbs trembled aweary of her wandering or when now chilly evening sped down from heaven’s height - ah! How often laid she her body on a stone, or when long thirst made her faint, what pools did her lips drink, what pastures graze, how oft did her white shoulders quail before the lash! Nay, too, as daring death she planned to leap from some lofty height, swift did Argus drive her down to the vale beneath, and cruelly saved her at his queen’s behest: when on a sudden a hollow flute pipes out a measure of Arcady, and the winged Cyllenian [Hermes], hastening to obey his sire, draws nigh, and tuning his oft reed to melody cries, ‘Wither away? Where roamest thou? Ho there! Give heed to my music!’ Following Argus close he notes that all his eyes are already languishing and seeking after sweet slumber, and in the midst of his song out he flashes his swift blade." - Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 4.365

"[The city of Argos] far-famed sceptre of great Phoroneus … there thou didst ruthelessly cast on sleep the guardian of the Pharian heifer [Argos Panoptes the guardian of Io]." - Statius, Thebaid 1.253

"Next in order [of the images at Nemea] is seen ... Io, already prone [transformed into a cow] and sorrow of her sire, sees behind her back Argus starred with eyes that no setting." - Statius, Thebaid 6.275

"The thousand eyes of sacred Argus, which he kept but in alternate watchfulness, nor even waked in all his frame at once." - Statius, Silvae 5.4.1

"You are not like a son of Zeus ... you did not kill that unhappy lover bold Orion, nor Hera’s guardian Argos, the cowkeeper, a son of Earth Gaia (Earth) so fertile in evil, the spy on Zeus in his weddings with horned cattle!" - Nonnus, Dionysiaca 20.35


Sources:

   * Homerica, The Aegimius - Greek Epic BC
   * Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound - Greek Tragedy C6th-5th BC
   * Aeschylus, Suppliants - Greek Tragedy C6th-5th BC
   * Apollodorus, The Library - Greek Mythography C2nd BC
   * Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy - Greek Epic C4th AD
   * Pausanias, Guide to Greece - Greek Geography C2nd AD
   * Hyginus, Fabulae - Latin Mythography C2nd AD
   * Virgil, Aeneid - Latin Epic C1st BC
   * Ovid, Metamorphoses - Latin Epic C1st BC - C1st AD
   * Propertius, Elegies - Latin Elegy C1st BC
   * Valerius Flaccus, The Argonautica - Latin Epic C1st AD
   * Statius, Thebaid - Latin Epic C1st AD
   * Statius, Silvae - Latin Epic C1st AD
   * Nonnos, Dionysiaca - Greek Epic C5th AD

Other references not currently quoted here: Nonnos Dionysiaca 13.27