Introduction
Epaphus is a son of Zeus and Io, born in Egypt after Io, restored to human form there following her long ordeal as a wandering, gadfly-tormented cow, gave birth to him. In Greek mythographic tradition, which frequently identified foreign gods and rulers with figures of its own pantheon, Epaphus became associated with the Egyptian king or god, sometimes identified with Apis.
Family
- Father: Zeus
- Mother: Io
- Siblings: Persephone, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Hermes, Dionysus, Ares, Hephaestus, Hebe, Eileithyia, Calliope, Clio, Erato, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia, Urania, Perseus, Heracles, Arcas, Aeacus, Dardanus, Minos, Rhadamanthus, Sarpedon, Pollux (Polydeuces), Helen, Amphion, Zethus
Birth and kingship
Zeus restored Io to human form in Egypt by the touch of his hand (from which Epaphus's name, meaning roughly "touch" or "contact", is said to derive), and she bore him a son who went on to become an early, legendary king of Egypt in the Greek tradition.
Descendants
Epaphus's descendants, in the Greek genealogical scheme, extend into several important mythic lines, including, some generations later, the fifty daughters of Danaus (the Danaids), who feature prominently in the founding legends of Argos.