Abstract

Since the 19 th c. it has been taken for granted that Apollodorus’ version of the story about the love of Zeus and Io and the killing of Argus, in which Zeus is said to have denied his love by swearing a false oath, must be traced back to Hesiod. This paper tries to show (1) that the reasons given for this assumption are not valid. They are based on a clear misunderstanding of Apollodorus’ words. In addition, the evidence adduced for it from literature and early vase painting does not stand close examination. It will be argued instead (2) that Apollodorus’ version is based rather on a hellenistic model and that in it Zeus actually does not commit a perjury, but tries to save Io from Hera’s revenge.