Iris : Of which? Sokrates (Socrates) : Let us inquire what thought men had in giving them [the gods] their names . Although initially an obscure goddess, Isis came to fulfill a variety of roles, primarily as wife and mother, mourner, and magical healer. . .’ Hark! . Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) : . Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C7th - 4th B.C.) So communication between heaven and earth, goddess of … Plunging first in to the Aigaion (Aegean) Sea where Nereus lives, she approached Thetis, delivered the message from Hera, and urged her to go to the goddess. He spoke, and swift wind-footed Iris did not disobey him, but went down along the hills of Ida to sacred Ilion, and found the son of wise Priamos (Priam), Hektor (Hector) the brilliant, standing among the compacted chariots and by the horses. In Greek vase painting Iris is depicted leading the procession of the gods to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. [She then relays the warning from Zeus.] Fairbanks) (Greek rhetorician C3rd A.D.) : PersonalityAntheia is very quiet to others except for nature-dealing and Iris. Müller, Aegin. IRIS (Iris), a daughter of Thaumas (whence she is called Thaumantias, Virg. : In other accounts, she fell in love with Zephyros, the god of the West Wind. . . ", Statius, Silvae 3. "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]. They in a flash of speed winged their way onward. . . 585 (trans. where, where, are you flying to? Iris, spreading her light pinions, swooped down from Olympos and cleft the air. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. 20 (trans. . Iris, glory of the sky, cloud-borne. "He [the River Hydaspes] had the genuine Titan blood; for from the bed of primeval Thaumas his rosyarm consort Elektra (Electra) brought forth two children--from that bed came a River and a messenger of the heavenly ones, Iris quick as the wind and swiftly flowing Hydaspes, Iris travelling on foot and Hydaspes by water. . She found Thetis inside the hollow of her cave . . Link will appear as Iris: https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net - Greek Gods & Goddesses, June 12, 2018, © Greek Gods and Goddesses 2010 - 2021 | About | Contact | Privacy. ", Statius, Thebaid 10. "The wife of Zephyros (West-Wind), Iris (Rainbow), the messenger of Zeus . 702 ff : But tell me, where are you flying to? "[Athena sends Iris to Aiolos (Aeolus) to summon a storm to wreck the Greek fleet :] Iris sped unto Aiolos (Aeolus), from heaven far-flying over misty seas, to bid him send forth all his buffetting Anemoi (Winds) o'er iron-bound Kaphereus' (Caphareus') cliffs to sweep ceaselessly, and with ruin of madding blasts to upheave the sea. 201. xviii. Pisthetairos : You would have died nevertheless.-Oh! . . She was loyal to Hera. 196 ff : 1 ff (trans. . : Homer equated her with the war-goddess Enyo, whose Roman counterpart is Bellona. .’ In the Homeric poems she appears as the minister of the Olympian gods, who carries messages from Ida to Olympus, from gods to gods, and from gods to men. Homeric Hymn 2 to Demeter 315 ff (trans. 655 ff (trans. They stepped out on dry land and swept to the sky. 547): and this brilliant phenomenon in tile skies, which vanishes as quickly as it appears, was regarded as the swift minister of the gods. She stood bowing low, and bent down her head to kiss Rheia’s feet with suppliant lips. "Iris informs Menelaos (Menelaus) of what has happened at his home [i.e. IRIS was the goddess of the rainbow and the messenger of the Olympian gods. 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. She also has a crush on the godboy of the west wind, Zephyrus.Iris can additionally create rainbow slides down to the Underworld. 53 ff : 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.’ ii. ", Nonnus, Dionysiaca 2. 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. So he commanded. Iris : I am immortal. 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. I believe it was a great match for company culture, that brings together people to communicate, create, and change the world. "Father Zeus sent Iris to the divine halls of Rheia, to inform wakethefray Dionysos, that he must drive out of Asia with his avenging thyrsus the proud race of Indians untaught of justice: he was to sweep from the sea the horned son of a river, Deriades the king, and teach all nations the sacred dances of the vigil and the purple fruit of vintage. 288, 432; Ov. ", Stesichorus, Fragment 222B (trans. . ", Nonnus, Dionysiaca 26. 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? to C1st A.D.) : Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 4. She spoke, and with her hand beat upon his languid breast, and charged him again and yet again, lest her message be lost. The union of the rainbow and west wind symbolised the variegated brilliance of passion. 78, 95, ii. It is beautiful enough, and its marvellous loveliness has given rise to the legend that Iris is the daughter of Thaumas (Wonder). Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. "Hermes is a god and has wings and flies, and so do many other gods. She paddled her way with windswift beat of wings, and entered the echoing den of stabled lions. She called Iris then, and coaxed her with friendly words : ‘Iris, goldenwing bride of plantnourishing Zephyros, happy mother of Eros (Love) [i.e. She [Thetis then] went on her way [to Olympos], and in front of her rapid wind-footed Iris guided her, and the wave of the water opened about them. Iris (the Rainbow) and Zephyros (the West-Wind) were occassionally called the parents of Pothos (passion). She mounted the chariot and beside her entering Iris gathered the reins up and whipped them into a run, and they winged their way unreluctant. Met. Way) (Greek epic C4th A.D.) : Ovid, Metamorphoses 14. . Rose-lipped Iris, daughter of Thaumas, thus addressed him : ‘[Delivering a message from Hera, inciting him against Aeneas] . Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) : . . Pisthetairos : By Zeus! 189 ff (trans. The first men who gave names [to the gods] were no ordinary persons, but high thinkers and great talkers . Or will you change a little? Day-Lewis) (Roman epic C1st B.C.) 77 ff (trans. . The Iris Boundary If you’ve looked at the Greek gods and goddesses, there are often analogous gods for every goddess. Iris : Are you mad? She spoke, nor did Hektor fail to mark the word of the goddess. . Good/Evil Rating: NEUTRAL, may not care Popularity index: 5927 So she spake and seated her beside the golden throne, even as a hunting hound of Artemis, which, when it hath ceased from the swift chase, sitteth by her feet, and its ears are erect, ever ready to receive the call of the goddess. . She would use her pitcher to scoop up water from the ocean and carry it into the clouds. Pisthetairos : Ah! . Pisthetairos : By which gate did you pass through the wal [of the city of the birds]l, wretched woman? He with his own nodding visage nods assent to the goddess’ command; o'er-weighted with the caverns’ gloom Iris goes forth, and tricks out her beams, made dim by showers of rain. ", Stasinus of Cyprus or Hegesias of Aegina, Cypria Fragment 1 (from Proclus, Chrestomanthia) (trans. keep motionless! But change your shape, take the ugly form of Hypnos' mother the blackgirdled goddess Nyx (Night); take a false name and become darkness . Amat. She is able to change shapes and when delivering messages to mortals Iris assumes the appearance of a mortal known to those who receive the message. . [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.’ Pisthetairo s: Paralos or Salaminia? (Il. 197. xxiv. Why, great gods, I don't know. [they hurled flaming] greenery, twigs, torches onto the ships. Your father bids you destroy the race of Indians, untaught of piety. : . "The most grim of gods [Eros (Love)], whom Iris (the Rainbow) of the fair sandals bore, having lain with golden-haired Zephyros (Zephyrus, the West Wind). Iris is the Messenger Goddess.daughter of the Titan Thaumas and Electra. "Dionysos, did not escape the jealousy of trick-stitching Hera. I did some reading up and feel like I'd like to make a connection with her. went swiftly as messenger to the Winds for him. Then, her task performed, Iris departed, for she could no more endure the power of Somnus [Hypnos], as drowsiness stole seeping through her frame, and fled away back o'er the arching rainbow as she came . (Hes. He spoke, and storm-footed Iris swept away with the message and came to the house of Priamos . These were holding assembly standing close at hand swift-running Iris spoke to them, and likened her voice to that of the son of Priamos (Priam), Polites . charioted upon the Anemoi (Winds), Euros (the East), Boreas (the North), Zephyros (the West-wind), and Notos (the South) [the four-wind gods in the forms of horses] : for Iris rainbow-plumed led 'neath the yoke of his eternal ear that stormy team. : Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 4. Iris Facts and Figures. Isis was a goddess of the religious beliefs of ancient Egypt, whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. As Goddess of the rainbow she joined the human realm to the place of the Gods. The goddess had asked her to watch for the moment when they [the Argonauts] set out for the ship; and now she urged her once again to help her : ‘Dear Iris, if ever you have done my bidding, serve me now. . Halt, don't stir! 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. Campbell, Vol. If you use any of the content on this page in your own work, please use the code below to cite this page as the source of the content.