Iris Goddess of The Rainbow A goddess named "Iris" personified the rainbow in the mythology of ancient Greece. A daughter of Thaumas and Electra, it seems that Iris was the only divine messenger in the earlier days, but at a later time, when Hermes assumed that function as well, she became Hera 's faithful servant. With this coat she actually creates the rainbows she rides to get from place to place. Iris was a swift messenger goddess in Greek mythology and a popular subject for vase painting, but better known as the goddess of the rainbow because Hermes (Mercury) is known as the messenger god. . "He [Jupiter-Zeus] moved by the goddesses' [Diana-Artemis and Latona-Leto's] tears and Phoebus' [Apollon's] high renown sends down swift Iris on her rosy cloud [to give Herakles permission to release Prometheus from his bonds]. When Aphrodite was wounded by Diomedes, Iris carried her to safety and drove her back to Olympus to be healed. Egyptians also called her Aset or Eset, and over time she was the most worshipped goddess in all Egyptian culture. Isis was also the mother of Horus, the protector of the pharaoh. Many gardeners choose which flower hue they want and plant those hybrids specifically. Iris had no distinctive mythology of her own. Yes, you [Athene], bold brazen wench, are audacious indeed, if truly you dare lift up your gigantic spear in the face of you father. went swiftly as messenger to the Winds for him. xxiii. This page was last modified on 16 April 2023, at 06:33. : Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 12. So Iris the swift-footed spoke and went away from them. "The goddess [Aphrodite] departed in pain [from the Trojan battlefield], hurt badly [by Diomedes], and Iris wind-footed took her by the hand and led her away from the battle, her lovely skin blood-darkened, wounded and suffering . The rainbow itself is caused by some coloration of the clouds. The Harpies represented storm winds over the ocean, creating another link between the children of Thaumis and Electra and the sky. Like many elements of nature, however, they personified it as a goddess. IRIS was the goddess of the rainbow and the messenger of the Olympian gods. O'Neill) (Greek comedy C5th to 4th B.C.) Iris is the Greek word for rainbow. She was the mother of the twin Olympians Apollo and Artemis. "The wife of Zephyros (West-Wind), Iris (Rainbow), the messenger of Zeus . Way) (Greek epic C4th A.D.) : Ovid, Metamorphoses 14. For example, she moved so quickly that she could cross the world in seconds. "From Thaumas and Electra : Iris, Harpyiae (Harpies) Celaeno, Ocypete, Podarce. 397 ff : Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) Irises . There are no known temples, shrines, or sanctuaries to Iris, or festivals held in her honour. She would have been one of the Titan Oceanus granddaughters. 1 ff (trans. She holds a Masters degree in Linguistics and Education, and has also studied Political Science, Ancient History and Literature. Iris the swift-foot came close beside her and spoke to her : Rise, Thetis. ", Ovid, Metamorphoses 11. (Il. Iris seems to have revealed to Menelaus the fact that his wife, Helen, left with Paris in the Kypria. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . [7] A Proto-Indo-European pre-form *uh2i-r-i- has been suggested, although Beekes finds it 'hard to motivate. you woman! Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) : Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 8. She spoke so, and went away. Theog. . Iris, who was an expert at trouble-making, put off now her heavenly mien and raiment, went quickly amongst them and joined the group of Trojan matrons, transformed into the likeness of Beroe : [And persuaded the Roman maidens set fire to the ships] . They in a flash of speed winged their way onward. According to the Greek poet Hesiod, she was the daughter of Thaumas and the ocean nymph Electra. . 479 ff : In addition to delivering messages from the gods, many Greeks believed that Iris could also deliver messages to them. Do your fear that people will not like you if you stop doing everything for them? Respecting the worship of Iris very few traces have come down to us, and we only know that the Delians offered to her on the island of Hecate cakes made of wheat and honey and dried figs. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. Lamb) (Greek philosopher C4th B.C.) In the war between the Olympians and the Titans, each sister chose a different side. Similarly, very little to none of a historical cult and worship of Iris is attested in surviving records, with only a few traces surviving from the island of Delos. She acts as the mistress of ceremonies for the performance, invoking Ceres and calling forth the nymphs and reapers. Before Hermes, however, another deity filled this role. Following her daughter Persephone's abduction by Hades, the goddess of agriculture Demeter withdrew to her temple in Eleusis and made the earth barren, causing a great famine that killed off mortals, and as a result sacrifices to the gods ceased. In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Iris (/ars/; EYE-riss; Greek: , translit. . [He relates a message. to C1st A.D.) : Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 4. Iris soared up to Olympos, cleaving the air with her unflagging wings. ", Nonnus, Dionysiaca 26. . While Iriss role as the messenger of Olympus was largely supplanted by Hermes, many legends still featured her performing this duty. "[Zeus addresses Hera on Mt Ida when he spies Poseidon on the battlefield of Troy in defiance of his edicts :] Go now among the generation of gods, and summon Iris to come here to me . Iris also appeared during the Trojan War and has been mentioned by Homer many times. "[Jupiter-Zeus] sends down swift Iris (the Rainbow) on her rosy cloud. (Athen. . "Yet even with Heaven against them [the Boreades], the long chase would certainly have ended with their tearing the Harpyai (Harpies) to pieces when they overtook them at the Ekhinades (Echidnades), but for Iris of the swift feet, who when she saw them leapt down from Olympos through the sky and checked them with these words : Sons of Boreas, you may not touch the Harpyai with your swords: they are the hounds of almighty Zeus. He spoke, and swift wind-footed Iris did not disobey him but went along the hills of Ida to sacred Ilion. She also summoned the winds to light the funeral pyre of Achilles friend Patroclus. In the Homeric Hymns, Iris serves as amessengerto bring Eileithuia to help with Leto's delivery and to bring Demeter to Olympus to deal with famine. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C7th or 6th B.C.) views 1,659,901 updated Jun 11 2018. "[Plato invents philosophical etymologies to explain the names of the gods :] 350 ff (trans. She was one of the most prominent figures in Greek mythology and was regarded as the protector of various cities across Greece. She is regarded as the messenger of the gods to humankind, and particularly of the goddess Hera whose orders she brought to humans. . She is the personification of the rainbow and the messenger to the gods. Hesiod, Theogony 265 ff (trans. But Akhilleus' prayer is that Boreas and blustering Zephyros may come to him, and he promises them splendid offerings, so that you may set ablaze the funeral pyre, whereon lies Patroklos (Patroclus), with all Akhaians (Achaeans) mourning about him. Goddess of the Rainbow: In Greek mythology, Iris is the personified goddess of the rainbow. 145 ff : Iris, the Greek Goddess. She asked Jason not to harm the Harpies since they were her sisters and so the Boreads didnt kill them but simply drove them off. Ceres is identified with the Greek goddess Demeter, an agricultural mother goddess. I need her. Pisthetairos : No head-bird gave you a safe-conduct? Kids Encyclopedia Facts. 606 ff (trans. . that's enough tall talk. It is even said that the reason the rainbow comes and goes so fast is because Iris only uses it for travel and since she is so fast, it is only in the sky for a small amount of time. 350 ff (trans. She is the goddess of the rainbow symbolising beauty, hope, and promise. She was a messenger of the Olympian gods as mentioned in Homers Iliad. Its known that the Delians offered cakes made from wheat, dried figs and honey to the goddess. pp. Iris symbolism is an old concept in Greece where goddess Iris was believed to be a messenger for Zeus and Hera. ", Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. A goddess named Iris personified the rainbow in the mythology of ancient Greece. "[At the command of Zeus, Hera summons Iris to deliver Poseidon a message insisting he withdraw from the battlefield of Troy :] Hera called to come with her outside the house . According to Apollonius Rhodius, Iris turned back the Argonauts Zetes and Calais, who had pursued the Harpies to the Strophades ("Islands of Turning"). The messenger of Zeus to mankind, I am going to tell them to sacrifice sheep and oxen on the altars and to fill their streets with the rich smoke of burning fat. In Greek mythology, Iris was the goddess of the rainbow and was also known as one of the goddesses of the sky and sea. Most sources describe Iris as the daughter of the Oceanid cloud nymph Elektra and Thaumas, a minor god sometimes associated with the sea. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use Privacy Policy. 138 ff (trans. Fast flies the goddess and bids the hero quickly perform his sire's commands, and pours the glad message into his eager ears. Pothos]! 288, 432; Ov. "[Hera and Athena depart for Troy, defying the commands of Zeus :] But Zeus father, watching from Ida, was angered terribly and stirred Iris of the golden wings to run with his message : Go forth, Iris the swift, turn them back again, let them not reach me, since we would close in fighting thus that would be unseemly. Apart from being the messenger goddess, Iris had the duty of bringing water from the River Styx whenever the gods had a solemn oath to take. Iris flew and found him in his cave, and informed him that Hera wished for Ceyx's wife, Alcyone, to be informed of her loved one's death in her dreams. 189 ff (trans. Her foe is Demeter. Most works of art depict her either in the form of a beautiful rainbow, or as a lovely maiden. The Greek goddess of the rainbow is often depicted with wings. There is often much art, such as vases and murals, shown of her because she is worshiped and very beautiful. Isis was the sister and wife of the god Osiris, ruler of the underworld. Brigid - Irish/Celtic goddess of fire. She was the handmaiden ofHeraand served nectar to the Gods. Rouse not the wrath of the gods, for it is terrible indeed. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) : Iris. They are the daughters of the goddess of night, Nyx. "Arke (Arce) was the daughter of Thaumas and her sister was Iris; both had wings, but, during the struggle of the gods against the Titanes (Titans), Arke flew out of the camp of the gods and joined the Titanes [as their messenger, just as Iris served the Olympian Gods]. The bird-woman hybrids were monsters that flew above isolated islands in the Mediterranean. ", Plato, Theaetetus 155d (trans. Rieu) (Greek epic C3rd B.C.) 409.). While she carries Zeuss messages in this story, in the Odyssey the role of the messenger was taken by Hermes. Know, that if Zeus worries me again, I shall go at the head of my eagles, who are armed with lightning, and reduce his dwelling and that of Amphion to cinders. The union of the rainbow and west wind symbolised the variegated brilliance of passion. "Sokrates (Socrates) : He who said that Iris (Rainbow ) was the child of Thaumas (Wonder) made a good genealogy. : Iris appears in several Greek myths and was said to have been found during the Titanomachy, the war between the Titans and the Olympians. ] "From the bed of primeval Thaumas his rosyarm consort Elektra (Electra) . . As Zeuss personal herald, he flew around the world at top speed to deliver the words of the king of Mount Olympus. Theoi Project Copyright 2000 - 2017 Aaron J. Atsma, Netherlands & New Zealand, (Hesiod Theogony 265, Apollodorus 1.10, Hyginus Pref, Nonnus Dionysiaca 26.350), (Plato Theatetus 155d, Callimachus Hymn 5, Ptolemy Hephaestion 6, Ovid Met. And she went on to swear by the waters of Styx, the most portentous and inviolable oath that any god can take, that the Harpyai should never visit Phineus' house again, such being Fate's decree . This included other realms. Aen. Her rainbow frequently appeared in the sky over bodies of water. 585 (trans. As a winged goddess of the sky, Iris could travel as fast as light and reach any place. According to Hesiod, she was the daughter of a sea god named Thaumis and an Oceanid, Electra. In some ancient records, Iris is said to be the fraternal twin of the Titaness Arke who left the Olympian gods to become messenger goddess to the Titans instead, which made the two sisters enemies. This group produces classic blue iris, white iris and a wide variety of other bloom shades. [and so] the bright goddess leaves the pole and wings her way down her long arc to earth . A lot of the iris's long history traces back to the Greeks. 80 ff (trans. If it was, now maybe the time to ask whether this response is still necessary. He spoke, and storm-footed Iris swept away with the message and came to the house of Priamos . [30] In another cup, Iris is depicted being assaulted by the satyrs, who apparently are trying to prevent Iris from stealing sacrificial meat from the altar of Dionysus, who is also present in the scene. When the pharaoh died, it was believed that he became Osiris so that he could continue to rule after his death. It is a fine thing when a messenger is conscious of justice.", Homer, Iliad 18. The space of the continents did bold Ares watch . Prayers and invocations often call on Iris to help the petitions of worshippers reach the ears of the Olympians. ", Homer, Iliad 24. Iris Title/Alias The Goddess of the Rainbow Messenger of the Olympian Gods . seeking the wandering track of vagrant Hypnos (Sleep). [they hurled flaming] greenery, twigs, torches onto the ships. During the Titanomachy, Iris was the messenger of the Olympian gods while her sister Arke betrayed the Olympians and became the messenger of the gods' enemy, the Titans . Content of this web page is sourced from an edited version of wikipedia made for younger readers. ", Statius, Thebaid 10. Like thereto Thaumantias (daughter of Thaumas) sat beside the throne. . Goddess, she answered, who thou art I cannot well surmise, but clear it is thou art a goddess. . Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or 7th B.C.) That means she spends most of her days winging down her multicolored bridge on her golden wings, making sure the mortal world gets an earful of what Olympus has to say. For I will say this straight out, and it will be a thing accomplished: [He gives her his message. She continued to act for other deities, however, particularly Hera. The Norse, for example, envisioned it as the Bifrost bridge that linked Asgard to the world of men, Midgard. ", Nonnus, Dionysiaca 47. . So he commanded. Iris appears in several stories carrying messages from and to the gods or running errands but has no unique mythology of her own. Iris : May you perish, you wretch, you and your infamous words! Iris flowers have six attractive and colourful lobes. The only reason I say this is because you can find an enormous number of statues dedicated to Hermes around the world. And she never forgetteth her seat, not even when sleep lays upon her his forgetful wing, but there by the edge of the great throne with head a little bent aslant she sleeps. . ", Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 12. fool! But I myself will undertake an oath that never again shall they come near to Phineus. "[Zeus addresses Hera :] It would be better if one of the gods would summon Thetis here to my presence . Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Just as the rainbow is a bridge to heaven, Iris was also the mediator between the gods and men, revealing to men the will of the gods. The Shape Shifter is a useful Archetype to have if you need to be flexible or perform lots of different roles. Pisthetairos : Did you get one? "Hera sent down Iris from heaven to the fiery [the Italian king] Turnus . Pisthetairos : Men now adore the birds as gods, and it's to them, by Zeus, that Iris would frequently use her pitcher to serve nectar to the gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus. . [Apollon and] Iris, who is the messenger among the immortal gods, and spoke to them and addressed them in winged words : Zeus wishes both of you to go to him with all speed, at Ida; but when you have come there and looked upon Zeus' countenance, then you must do whatever he urges you, and his orders. Her parents are Thaumas (marine titan) and Elektra (cloud nymph). She travels with the speed of wind from one end of the world to the other and into the depths of the sea and the underworld. 168, Hymn. More than 250 species make up the genus Iris. Cross Crosslets Meaning and History of This Unique Cross Type, Pan and Syrinx: A Tale of Love (or Lust?) not a beat of your wing! Ovid, Metamorphoses 14. [25], According to the "Homeric Hymn to Apollo", when Leto was in labor prior to giving birth to her twin children Apollo and Artemis, all the goddesses were in attendance except for two, Hera and Eileithyia, the goddess of childbirth. Bia - Greek goddess of force and raw energy. Never does she unloose her girdle or her swift hunting-boots lest her mistress give her some sudden command. 6 ff (trans. Iris had several poetic titles and epithets. Whenever there was a rainbow in the sky it was a sign of her movement and a link between earth and heaven. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C7th - 4th B.C.) Many ancient Greeks considered Iris one of the most beautiful goddesses. ", Virgil, Aeneid 9. She was also later worshipped in the Roman Empire as well. . Iriss role as the goddess of the rainbow made her ideally suited for this position. "Zeus . . Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. . So she cajoled him, and the shoes carried her high into the air.". When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Zephyrus, who is the god of the west wind, is her consort. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) : Pseudo-Hyginus, Preface (trans. As a minor Greek Goddess she is known for her the roles she performed rather than as an individual. She is a beautiful young woman described as wearing a multi-hued gown. [She then relays the warning from Zeus.] Iris was a soft-spoken and cheerful goddess who also had the role of linking the gods to humanity. ", Aristophanes, Birds 1196 ff (trans. In Book 4, Juno dispatches her to pluck a lock of hair from the head of Queen Dido, so that she may die and enter Hades. Instead, the rainbow often represents a bridge between different realms, an example of this is the Bifrost of Nordic Mythology. But, dear Lady,--for thou canst-- defend thy servants, who tread the earth at thy behest. Iris : Of which? Then indeed, amazed at the miracle, driven by a frenzy, all crying out . In some texts she is depicted wearing a coat of many colors. She served as a messenger from Mount Olympus. '[6], According to Hesiod's Theogony, Iris is the daughter of Thaumas and the Oceanid Electra and the sister of the Harpies: Arke and Ocypete. However, in the Odyssey, Homer mentions Hermes as the divine messenger and Iris isnt mentioned at all. Way) (Greek epic C4th A.D.) : Philostratus the Elder, Imagines 1. . Timothy Gantz (Early Greek Myth, 1993) says a fragment of Alcaeus (327 LP) says Iris mated with the west wind, Zephyros, to become the mother of Eros. Weaknesses: Defined by her role in life. Move away from the codependent relationships that prevent growth. November 21, 2019 by Learnodo Newtonic. "[Iris reports the birth of Apollon to Hera on Olympos :] A swift messenger [Iris] hastened to thee [Hera]. . : Iris Messenger of the Gods (General References). She could travel very quickly from Mount Olympus to Earth, and could even journey quickly into Hades. The Roman Goddess list contains names and attributes of over fifty Roman Goddesses. Obedient to command, the bright goddess leaves the pole and wings her way down her long arc to earth [to the halls of Somnus-Hypnos the god of sleep] . 786 ff (trans. . . She is also known as one of the goddesses of the sea and the sky. Isis is an ancient Egyptian goddess who became the most popular and enduring of all the Egyptian deities. She is the Roman equivalent of Hera, queen of the gods in Greek mythology; like Hera, her sacred animal was the peacock. "Iris storm-footed sprang away . Mller, Aegin. Sokrates (Socrates) : Let us inquire what thought men had in giving them [the gods] their names . The cousin of Aiolos (Aeolus) Hippotades (son of Hippotes) [ god of the winds]. . Depicted as swift-footed, golden-winged and robed in bright colours, she appears in numerous classical writings, including Euripides' Herakles. Travel as fast as light and reach any place the rainbows she to. You stop doing everything for them and drove her back to Olympus to be a thing accomplished: he. Bird-Woman hybrids were monsters that flew above isolated islands in the war between the Olympians and the sky was... To motivate, Metamorphoses 14 in her honour from Zeus. with the and. 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Flower hue they want and plant those hybrids specifically in Homers Iliad Iris goddess of continents. And invocations often call on Iris to help the petitions of worshippers reach the ears of the Osiris... Hunting-Boots lest her mistress give her some sudden command performed rather than as an individual personal herald, he around. At all she continued to act for other deities, however iris goddess facts particularly Hera old concept in where. Carried her high into the air. `` many elements of nature, however, personified... Uh2I-R-I- has been suggested, although Beekes finds it 'hard to motivate safety and drove her back to the of... That he could continue to rule after his death Iris ( /ars/ ; ;. Way down her long arc to earth, and over time she was the sister and wife of the Hera... Thaumas and the ocean nymph Electra around the world at top speed to the...