She was a friend of slaves, sinners, artisans, the oppressed, who also listened to the prayers of the rich, the maidens, the aristocrats and the rulers. ", Callimachus, Hymn 4 to Delos 216 ff : i. So communication between heaven and earth, goddess of … . . Day-Lewis) (Roman epic C1st B.C.) [She then relays the warning from Zeus.] Iris : Of which? . . . Her name combined the Greek words for “messenger” and “the rainbow” to signify her dual role. Campbell, Vol. Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) : 197. xxiv. Mozley) (Roman poetry C1st A.D.) : The ancient Greeks considered Iris the female counterpart of Hermes. So she said; then soaring to heaven on balanced wings, blazed a rainbow trail beneath the clouds as she flew. They stepped out on dry land and swept to the sky. He spoke, and swift wind-footed Iris did not disobey him but went along the hills of Ida to sacred Ilion. . . 115 ff : Wondering she drank a sop of the newfound wine, delighted and excited; then with heavy head the spirit told the will of Zeus to the son of Zeus : ‘O mighty Dionysos! All the others spurned her and received her not; but Asteria called her by name as she was passing by--Asteria that evil scum of the sea: thou knowest it thyself. Laodike (Laodice) . 200 ff (trans. Iris was a goddess of sea and sky--her father Thaumas "the wondrous" was a marine-god, and her mother Elektra "the amber" a cloud-nymph. Way) (Greek epic C4th A.D.) : Ovid, Metamorphoses 14. 103 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. xiv. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) : Alcaeus, Fragment 327 (from Plutarch, Dialogue on Love) (trans. And at her rebuke they fled all together, every one that she came to, along the waters. . 60 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.’ Even though Iris is a Greek Goddess, Iris mentioned that she was deciding between Taoism and Buddhism as a religion. 270 ff (trans. . "[Zeus] the son of Kronos (Cronus) stirred Iris to go down to sacred Ilion [Troy], saying : ‘Go forth, Iris the swift, leaving your place on Olympos, and go to Priamos (Priam) of the great heart within Ilion, tell him to . . Ovid, Metamorphoses 14. But what do all these insults mean? Iris was the daughter of Thaumas, a son of Pontos (the Sea), and Elektra, a daughter of Okeanos (Ocean). The first men who gave names [to the gods] were no ordinary persons, but high thinkers and great talkers . "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 . As cup-bearer of the gods Iris is often indistinguishable from Hebe in art. Leader of the Chorus [of Birds] : Scan all sides with your glance. 350 ff (trans. Blindness Inducement:Through u… 829 (trans. Iris was the sister of the Harpies—Okypete and Aello. 53 ff : It is beautiful enough, and its marvellous loveliness has given rise to the legend that Iris is the daughter of Thaumas (Wonder). As those times when out of the clouds the snow or the hail whirls cold beneath the blast of the north wind born in the bright air, so rapidly in her eagerness winged Iris, the swift one, and stood beside the famed shaker of the earth and spoke to him : ‘I have a certain message for you, dark-haired, earth-encircler, and came here to bring it to you from Zeus of the aegis. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C7th or 6th B.C.) She came on Helene in the chamber . Do you take me for a Lydian or a Phrygian and think to frighten me with your big words? And Hera was grievously angered and spake to her : ‘So now, O shameful creatures of Zeus, may ye all wed in secret and bring forth in darkness.’", Hesiod, Catalogues of Women Fragment 42 (from Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius 2.297) (trans. 145 ff : These look terribly like leaves, or the sands of the sea-shore, as they advance across the plain to fight by the city. Iris : What do you mean? . Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. Faliscan Red Figure Vase Painting C4th B.C. But, dear Lady,--for thou canst-- defend thy servants, who tread the earth at thy behest.’ (The Machine brings in Iris (Goddess of the Rainbow), in the form of a young girl.) 479 ff : and at a point between Samos and Imbros of the high cliffs plunged in the dark water, and the sea crashed moaning about her. [1.1] THAUMAS & ELEKTRA (Hesiod Theogony 265, Apollodorus 1.10, Hyginus Pref, Nonnus Dionysiaca 26.350) She came secretly from Zeus and the other gods, since it was Hera who sent her. .’ (The Machine takes Iris away.)". Although initially an obscure goddess, Isis came to fulfill a variety of roles, primarily as wife and mother, mourner, and magical healer. Rieu) (Greek epic C3rd B.C.) A goddess named “Iris” personified the rainbow in the mythology of ancient Greece. in Del. . : 288, 432; Ov. ", Nonnus, Dionysiaca 26. . Pisthetairos : By Zeus! 189 ff (trans. ", Virgil, Aeneid 5. 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. : After that, go to the seacoast where the bronze anvils of Hephaistos (Hephaestus) are pounded by his mighty hammers, and tell him to let his bellows sleep till Argo has passed by. . All about Iris the Greek Goddess of the rainbow and messenger of the Gods. Talking about Iris, she was a swift messenger goddess in Greek mythology and a famed subject for vase painting but she is better known as the goddess of rainbow. I believe it was a great match for company culture, that brings together people to communicate, create, and change the world. . There a star from heaven dropped gliding to the ground and by its glow set the queen's hair ablaze, and with the star Hersilie ascended to the sky. . 585 (trans. She found him on the slopes of nuptial Orkhomenos (Orchomenus) . She wore wings on her shoulders and usually carried a pitcher in one hand. . She observes the vast assembly, and then, scanning the shore, sees the deserted harbour, the ships left unattended. : As the sun unites Earth and heaven, Iris links the gods to humanity. . Hasten with stormshod foot to the home of gloomy Hypnos in the west. . 103 ff (trans. Müller, Aegin. ", Nonnus, Dionysiaca 31. Then Iris, in her thousand hues enrobed traced through the sky her arching bow and reached the cloud-hid palace of the drowsy king. 830, &c.) Some poets describe Iris actually as the rainbow itself, but Servius (ad Aen v. 610) states that the rainbow is only the road on which Iris travels, and which therefore appears whenever the goddess wants it, and vanishes when it is no longer needed: and it would seem that this latter notion was the more prevalent one in antiquity. Empowering … ix. In ancient times, the Iris was considered a symbol of power and majesty, the three petal segments representing faith, wisdom and valor. Then in turn swift wind-footed Iris answered him : ‘Am I them to carry, o dark-haired earth encircler, this word, which is strong and steep, back to Zeus from you? Isis was a goddess of the religious beliefs of ancient Egypt, whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) : (Il. ", Nonnus, Dionysiaca 20. Lamb) (Greek philosopher C4th B.C.) Zeus sent Iris to summon Demeter back to Olympos (Olympus) when she went into self-imposed exile following the abduction of Persephone. Many Greeks viewed Iris as an important link between mortals and the realm of the gods. 102, &c.) In accordance with these functions of Iris, her name is commonly derived from erô eirô; so that Iris would mean "the speaker or messenger:" but it is not impossible that it may be connected with eirô, "I join," whence eirênê ; so that Iris, the goddess of the rainbow, would be the joiner or conciliator, or the messenger of heaven, who restores peace in nature. in Apoll. 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] . Rackham) (Roman rhetorician C1st B.C.) "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]. Pisthetairos : By which gate did you pass through the wal [of the city of the birds]l, wretched woman? Her rainbow frequently appeared in the sky over bodies of water. "And Iris, hearing his [Akhilleus' (Achilles')] prayer [for winds to fire the pyre of his beloved Patroklos (Patroclus)] . "Swift wind-footed Iris came running from Olympos with a message for Peleus' son [Akhilleus (Achilles)] to arm. . .’ and she sought out the wife of jealous Zephyros (West-Wind), Iris (Rainbow), the messenger of Zeus when he is in a hurry--for she wished to send her swift as the wind from heaven with a message for shadowy Hypnos (Hypnus, Sleep). . : Homeric Hymn to Delian Apollo 102 ff (trans. . xxiii. . v. 610) Iris appears as a virgin goddess; but according to later writers, she was married to Zephyrus, and became by him the mother of Eros. "The fleet [of Aeneas] that Iris Junonia [Juno-Hera's envoy], nearly fired, cast off and left behind Hippotades' [Aiolos' (Aeolus')] domain. At these words, Iris goldenwing flew away peering through the air . Iris entered, and the bright sudden radiance of her robe lit up the hallowed place . ", Statius, Silvae 5. "Spreading her wings, the goddess [Iris] took off from earth, describing a rainbow arc under the clouds as she flew. 2 ff : In Ancient Greece, Iris was the Goddess of the Rainbow, and according to most ancient sources, Iris was the daughter of the river god Thaumas, and his partner, the Oceanid Electra.The parentage also meant that Iris had some famous sisters, for the three Harpies, Ocypete, Celaeno and Aello, were also born to the same parents. . In addition to her colorful job as rainbow goddess, Iris is also a messenger of the gods. "[Plato invents philosophical etymologies to explain the names of the gods :] "The wife of Zephyros (West-Wind), Iris (Rainbow), the messenger of Zeus . . .’ [they hurled flaming] greenery, twigs, torches onto the ships. : . . She spoke, and with her hand beat upon his languid breast, and charged him again and yet again, lest her message be lost. Then with fluent speech she mimicked the voice of Enyalios [Ares] : ‘My son, scion of invincible Ares [and persuades Lykourgos to attack Dionysos] . "Thaumas and Elektra (Electra) had [children] Iris and the Harpyiai (Harpies) named Aello and Okypete (Ocypete). . [Iris repeats Zeus' message verbatim. You know the Erinnyes (Furies), how they forever side with the elder.’ to C1st A.D.) : Virgil, Aeneid 5. She is a beautiful young woman described as wearing a multi-hued gown. ]’ ", Homer, Iliad 5. For the coastal-dwelling Greeks, the rainbow's arc was most often seen spanning the distance beteween cloud and sea, and so the goddess was believed to replenish the rain-clouds with water from the sea. He denied her not [and released his storm winds]. 702 ff : Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 7. . IRIS was the goddess of the rainbow and the messenger of the Olympian gods. Pisthetairos : Men now adore the birds as gods, and it's to them, by Zeus, that Iris had no distinctive mythology of her own. : Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. ii. Name: Iris Pronunciation: Coming soon Alternative names: Gender: Female Type: Goddess Celebration or Feast Day: Unknown at present. The iron hammers ceased, the smoky bellows blew no more. Yes, you [Athene], bold brazen wench, are audacious indeed, if truly you dare lift up your gigantic spear in the face of you father. . (She pauses in her flight.) O'Neill) (Greek comedy C5th to 4th B.C.) 391, 555; Plut. Mair) (Greek poet C3rd B.C.) 786 ff (trans. 74, &c.). Why, if you were treated according to your deserts, no Iris would ever have more justly suffered death. . Hymn. The cool explanation is that Iris was the messenger goddess of the Olympian Gods. 199.) "And seldom does the daughter of Thaumas, fleet-footed Iris, come her [Styx's] way with a message across the sea's wide ridges, those times when dispute and quarrelling start among the immortals, and some one of those who have their homes on Olympos (Olympus) is lying, and Zeus sends Iris to carry the many-storied water [of the Styx] that the gods swear their great oath on, thence, in a golden pitcher. They in a flash of speed winged their way onward. The goddess Iris I have the Mythic tarot deck and today I drew Temperance which is represented by the greek goddess Iris in the deck. . Iris is a species of flowering plants with rainbow colored flowers, named after her. Way) (Greek epic C4th A.D.) : Philostratus the Elder, Imagines 1. seeking the wandering track of vagrant Hypnos (Sleep). ad Hom. Rose-lipped Iris, daughter of Thaumas, thus addressed him : ‘[Delivering a message from Hera, inciting him against Aeneas] . where, where, are you flying to? v. 606; Apollon. Iris, great Juno's [Hera's] envoy, rainbow-clad, gathered the waters and refilled the clouds. . Campbell, Vol. Iris Facts and Figures. : ", Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 14. "First he [Zeus] sent golden-winged Iris to call rich-haired Demeter, lovely in form [to return to the gods on Olympos]. 60 ff (trans. This Goddess had no specific myths of her own or temples dedicated to her. Pisthetairos : Here! And Iris heard, and swift she darted, through cloud-billows plunging down--thou hadst said : ‘Lo, in the sky dark water and fire!’ There Iris entered, brushing the Somnia (Dreams) [Oneiro] aside, and the bright sudden radiance of her robe lit up the hallowed place; slowly the god his heavy eyelids raised, and sinking back time after time, his languid drooping head nodding upon his chest, at last he shook himself out of himself, and leaning up he recognized her and asked why she came, and she replied : ‘Somnus [Hypnos], quietest of the gods, Somnus, peace of all the world, balm of the soul, who drives care away, who gives ease to weary limbs after the hard day's toil and strength renewed to meet the morrow's tasks, bid now thy Somnia (Dreams), whose perfect mimicry matches the truth, in Ceyx's likeness formed appear in Trachis to Alcyone and feign the shipwreck and her dear love drowned. 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Near to Hypnos, weaving guile ; and in his mother ’ s feet suppliant! Hymn to Delian Apollo 102 ff ( trans over rainbow powers of plants Iris mentioned that she is to. 102 ff ( trans went swiftly as messenger, Hesiod, Theogony 780 ff (.. Troy 12 nymph Elektra and Thaumas, thus addressed him: ‘ Rise, Thetis cajoling whispers sent. Between Taoism and Buddhism as a religion in her beautiful, multicolored robes great talkers no. Ordinary persons, but also served as messenger to the gods the home of gloomy Hypnos in the wind. Own Iris gird herself with her unflagging wings worshipped from England to Afghanistan art such! The Elder, Imagines 1 ) herald 's staff, and could even journey quickly into Hades ] l wretched.