A fabulous being of antiquity, said to have had a hundred eyes, who has placed by Juno to guard Io. His eyes were transplanted to the peacock's tail.
One very vigilant; a guardian always watchful.
A genus of East Indian pheasants. The common species (Argus giganteus) is remarkable for the great length and beauty of the wing and tail feathers of the male. The species Argus Grayi inhabits Borneo.
A giant with one hundred eyes. After his death, his eyes were placed on the peacock.
One of Zeus' sexual escapades involved the maiden Io. In an attempt to keep Hera from discovering the truth of his dalliance, Zeus transformed Io into a cow. Hera, not easily thrown off the scent of her husband's affairs, prevailed upon Zeus to give her the cow as a present and an assurance of his good faith, after which Hera enlisted the aid of Argus, a giant with one hundred eyes, to keep a close watch over the poor girl. In English one who is ever-vigilant or watchful can be called an Argus or be described as argus-eyed.
(1) The hundred-eyed monster whom Hera appointed to spy on Zeus; when Hermes killed him, Hera placed his eyes in the peacock's tail: (2) The faithful dog of Odysseus who died immediately after recognizing that his master had returned to Ithaca.
(Greek mythology) a giant with 100 eyes; was guardian of the heifer Io and was slain by Hermes
large brilliantly patterned East Indian pheasant
The Argus is a type of bird in the family Phasianidae and is closely related to pheasants and peacocks.