Io

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Characteristics of Astronomic Body
Io's size and density is very similar to our own Moon.There are no impact craters on Io. The surface of Io must be younger than a millions years old, and is continually being resurfaced by volcanic activity. Also, the surface is very colorful, mottled with red, yellow, white and orange black markings. The surface composition on Io consists largely of sulfur with deposits of frozen sulfur dioxide. The surface on Io is mostly flat plains rising no more than 1km. Moutain ranges up to 9 km high have also been observed.



Connection to Other Mythological Figures
Io ended up telling to [|Prometheus] the story of her and Zeus, while he was bound to his rock. Prometheus, though he couldn't provide direct comfort, told her that, though her future would be fraught with hardship and toil, she would, upon reaching Egypt and the Nile, be restored by Zeus and bore him a son, Epaphus. Furthermore, and perhaps more importantly, she is the progenitor, thought removed by many generations, of [|Hercules], greatest of heroes, to whom Prometheus himself would owe his freedom.

Birth Story of Mythological Figure
The father of Io was Inachus, the king of Argos.

Popular Story of Mythological Figure
Iynx, daughter of Pan and Echo, cast a spell on Zeus and he fell in love with Io. When Hera charged him with infidelity, he told her a lie: "I have never touched Io". He then turned Io into a white cow to escape Hera's wrath, which Hera claimed and ordered Argus Panoptes to tie her to an olive tree. Zeus then sent Hermes to release Io. Hermes waited until Argus fell asleep, and then cut off hiss head and freed Io. When Hera saw this, she sent a gadfly to chase and sting Io, so she ran all the way to Egypt, where Zeus turned her back.

Myth or Science Connection
The moon, Io, is one of the many moons revolving around Jupiter, just as Io in mythology is one of the many sweethearts of Zeus.