Inachus

[4] Various ancient authors describe Inachus as being one of the river gods born of Titans Oceanus and Tethys,[5] and thus to the Greeks, was part of the pre-Olympian or "Pelasgian" mythic landscape.

[citation needed] In Greek iconography, Walter Burkert notes,[6] the rivers are represented in the form of a bull with a human head or face.

Although these myths have been passed down since then, one of the most remarkable findings of modern archaeology was the monuments and remains showing that Argos had indeed been an ancient civilization alongside Egypt and Babylonia.

[18] Jerome and Eusebius (both citing Castor of Rhodes), and as even late as 1812, John Lemprière[19] euhemeristically asserted that he was the first king of Argos reigning for 50 years[20] (B.C.

[2] The ancients themselves made several attempts to explain the stories about Inachus: sometimes they looked upon him as a native of Argos, who after the deluge of Deucalion led the Argives from the mountains into the plains, and confined the waters within their proper channels.

In Danaan founding myth, because of the springs of Argolid being dried up, King Danaus sent his daughters to draw water to counter this drought.

When Io gained the courage to tell Inachus about these haunting dreams, his father sent many messengers to consult the oracle of Pytho and Dodona so that he might discover what deed or word of his would find favor with the gods.

The king yielding in obedience to such prophetic utterances of Loxias (Apollo), Inachus drove his daughter away and barred her from his house, against his and Io's will.

Inachus and his naiad daughters did not recognize Io, whom Zeus had transformed into a cow so that she could avoid detection by his jealous wife, Hera.

When the ancient Inachus gathered sweet herbs and offered them to her, she licked his hands, kissing her father's palms, nor could she more restrain her falling tears.

[29] In a rare variant of the myth according to Parthenius, Inachus sent several men to search and attempt to find her daughter Io who had been captured by brigands (not Zeus this time).

One of these was Lyrcus, the son of Phoroneus, who covered a vast deal of land and sea without finding the girl, and finally renounced the toilsome quest.