She came on Helene in the chamber . ", Statius, Thebaid 12. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or 7th B.C.) Pisthetairos : Here! 787, xviii. : Plato, Cratylus 400d & 408c ff (trans. Iris, great Juno's [Hera's] envoy, rainbow-clad, gathered the waters and refilled the clouds. 270 ff (trans. But tell me, where are you flying to? 20 (trans. . ", Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 12. If Iris was the – and you think of the iris of your eye, the colors of the rainbow. Then goddess Iris returned flying at speed and hastened to deliver her welcome message to her queen.". And if the Arcus (the Rainbow) [Iris] is a divinity, what will you do about the Nubes (Clouds) [Nephelai])? . . [and so] the bright goddess leaves the pole and wings her way down her long arc to earth . . The appearance of Iris in Greek comedy was anticipated by her earlier appearance in the satyr-plays of the tragedians. She uses the rainbow to travel from the sky to the water. Fast flies the goddess and bids the hero quickly perform his sire's commands, and pours the glad message into his eager ears. 1 ff (trans. In later poets she appears on the whole in the same capacity as in the Iliad, but she occurs gradually more and more exclusively in the service of Hera, both in the later Greek and Latin poets. [1.1] THAUMAS & ELEKTRA (Hesiod Theogony 265, Apollodorus 1.10, Hyginus Pref, Nonnus Dionysiaca 26.350) Iris : Are there others then? Lamb) (Greek philosopher C4th B.C.) Pothos]! "Now Thaumas married a daughter of deep-running Okeanos (Oceanus), Elektra (Electra), and she bore him swift-footed Iris, the rainbow. 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 is a beautiful young woman described as wearing a multi-hued gown. Iris Facts and Figures. Next, go to Aiolos (Aeolus), king of the sky-born winds, and to him too convey my wishes, which are that he should order all the winds of heaven to cease . they must offer sacrifices, and not to Zeus at all! 479 ff : In the earlier poets, and even in Theocritus (xvii. 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. "Iris informs Menelaos (Menelaus) of what has happened at his home [i.e. ", Virgil, Aeneid 5. . Speaking so the goddess left in her heart sweet longing after her husband of time before, and her city and parents. 286 ff (trans. IRIS was the goddess of the rainbow and the messenger of the Olympian gods. 144, xxiv. 196 ff : 20.) . Iris was the daughter of Thaumas, a son of Pontos (the Sea), and Elektra, a daughter of Okeanos (Ocean). Day-Lewis) (Roman epic C1st B.C.) . . "[Hera] kept watch within the sky, angered in her heart greatly and beyond telling, and she prevented Leto who was holden in the pangs of child-birth. IRIS was the goddess of the rainbow and the messenger of the Olympian gods. Hither from the blue sky came in balanced flight the varicoloured maid [Iris the rainbow]; the forests shine out, and the shady glens smile upon the goddess, and smitten with her zones of radiance the palace starts from its sleep; but he himself, awoken neither by the bright glow nor by the sound or voice of the goddess, lay motionless as ever, till the Thaumantian [Iris] shot at him all her splendours and sank deep into his drowsy vision. 85 ff (trans. Iris was the daughter of Thaumas, a son of Pontos (the Sea), and Elektra, a daughter of Okeanos (Ocean). Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) : 655 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. Greek Lyric III) (Greek lyric C7th to 6th B.C.) "[Iris reports the birth of Apollon to Hera on Olympos :] A swift messenger [Iris] hastened to thee [Hera]. : . : Plato, Theaetetus 155d (trans. Mozley) (Roman poetry C1st A.D.) : Nonnus, Dionysiaca 2. : Ovid, Metamorphoses 11. 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] . 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. : In Greek mythology, Iris was the goddess of the rainbow, a messenger for Zeus and Hera who rode the rainbow as a multicolored bridge from heaven to earth. Then in turn Akhilleus of the swift feet answered her: ‘Divine Iris, what god sent you to me with a message?’ . As Goddess of the rainbow she joined the human realm to the place of the Gods. ", Homer, Iliad 24. iii. Iris : Am I dreaming? A goddess named “Iris” personified the rainbow in the mythology of ancient Greece. . Iris is considered a minor goddess. . Eleusis, and there finding dark-cloaked Demeter in her temple spake to her and uttered winged words : ‘Demeter, father Zeus, whose wisdom is everlasting, calls you to come join the tribes of the eternal gods: come therefore, and let not the message I bring from Zeus pass unobeyed.’ Thus said Iris imploring her. 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. She is called 'The Rainbow, Iris' thus implying that her presence is a sign of hope or perhaps symbolizing a bridge between heaven and earth. In charge of: Communication Area of expertise: Communication. . Mozley) (Roman poetry C1st A.D.) : ", Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 2. ", Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 4. They in a flash of speed winged their way onward. Faliscan Red Figure Vase Painting C4th B.C. What! so that Iris may go among the bronze-armoured people of the Akhaians (Achaeans), and give a message to lord Poseidon to leave the fighting and come back to the home that is his.’", Homer, Iliad 15. . . Iris daughter of Thaumas]. ]’ Goddess of the Rainbow Iris flies on the wind and moves like a blast of bright air. Iris : By which gate? She is known as ‘The Rainbow, Iris’ thus suggesting that her presence is a symbol of hope or maybe … . pp. ‘Go,’ he says, ‘let Alcides [Herakles] . 199.) People believed that this would summon the goddess to guide the souls in their journey to heaven. "For, while they [Aeneas and his men in Italy] perform the rites at the tomb with various contests, Iris has been despatched from heaven by Hera, on the wings of a favouring wind, to the Trojan fleet : the goddess has certain designs; unappeased as yet is her old resentment. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or 7th B.C.) : . ", Ovid, Metamorphoses 14. But they won't pass this way. She is sibling to Arke, Aello, Celaeno, and Ocypete. Unseen by any, the virginal Iris speeds to earth, sliding along the curve of a rainbow of many colours. She is depicted as a beautiful golden goddess, with wings (for flight), sandals, a staff, and a tunic. "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). If Iris was the – and you think of the iris of your eye, the colors of the rainbow. "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. See also the sections describing messenger Iris in myth (below). . . 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. Met. . Last of all, she went to Aiolos, the famous son of Hippotas, and when she had given him too her message, she rested her swift limbs, the errand done. 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. She came near to Hypnos, weaving guile; and in his mother’s guise uttered her deceitful speech in cajoling whispers . (Il. Armed with the brand of Zeus, justice would annihilate your race; the lightning would strike you as it did Likymnios and consume both your body and the porticos of your palace. 185 ff : xiv. And at her rebuke they fled all together, every one that she came to, along the waters. "Iris, great Juno's [Hera's] envoy, rainbow-clad. Lamb) (Greek philosopher C4th B.C.) Her name combined the Greek words for “messenger” and “the rainbow” to signify her dual role. . . His order is that . 606 ff (trans. . He spoke, and Iris, storm-footed, rose with his message and took her way from the peaks of Ida to tall Olympos, and at the utmost gates of many-folded Olympos, met and stayed them [Athene and Hera from departing for Troy against the express order of Zeus], and spoke the word that Zeus had given her: ‘Where so furious? Iris forthwith seeks out the Minyae [Argonauts], and Cytherea [Aphrodite] the Colchian maid [Medea] [to arrange their destined meeting and love] . (Athen. As a goddess, Iris is associated with communication, messages, the rainbow, and new endeavors. . 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. Good/Evil Rating: NEUTRAL, may not care Popularity index: 5927 Pisthetairos : What's your name, ship or head-dress? . (Callim. Rieu) (Greek epic C3rd B.C.) "Juno [Hera] spies winged Iris and bids her swiftly obey Dione's [Aphrodite's] command and bring the Aesonian youth [Jason, leader of the Argonauts] to the appointed grove. 168, Hymn. . Then in turn swift wind-footed Iris spoke to him : ‘Hera sent me, the honoured wife of Zeus, but the son of Kronos, who sits on high, does not know this, nor any other immortal, of all those who dwell by the snows of Olympos.’", Homer, Iliad 23. Name: Iris Pronunciation: Coming soon Alternative names: Gender: Female Type: Goddess Celebration or Feast Day: Unknown at present In charge of: Communication Area of expertise: Communication Good/Evil Rating: NEUTRAL, may not care Popularity index: 5916 I believe it was a great match for company culture, that brings together people to communicate, create, and change the world. Sokrates (Socrates) : Let us inquire what thought men had in giving them [the gods] their names . 232; Virg. . Yes, you [Athene], bold brazen wench, are audacious indeed, if truly you dare lift up your gigantic spear in the face of you father. So he spoke, and goldenwing Iris divine smiled to hear; then went her way, paddling in the false shape of a falcon . 103 ff (trans. ", Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4. At these words, Iris goldenwing flew away peering through the air . So she cajoled him, and the shoes carried her high into the air.". . Pisthetairos : You would have died nevertheless.-Oh! Iris : Are you mad? Some stories describe her as unmarried and primarily a messenger for the Olympian gods. fool! After much toil She [Leto pregnant with Apollon and Artemis and forced to wander the earth by the rage of Hera] came unto the Isles (Nesoi) of the sea. So Iris the swift-footed spoke and went away from them. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) : Pseudo-Hyginus, Preface (trans. She came secretly from Zeus and the other gods, since it was Hera who sent her. Some accounts depict her as one of the goddess Hera’s assistants. ], Ovid, Metamorphoses 1. (The Machine takes Iris away.)". Rhod. Iris is the Messenger Goddess.daughter of the Titan Thaumas and Electra. to C1st A.D.) : [She then relays the warning from Zeus.] Sibling #2 was Hydaspes, he was a river god. : ", Nonnus, Dionysiaca 47. Müller, Aegin. . 391, 555; Plut. 27, xvii. (The Machine brings in Iris (Goddess of the Rainbow), in the form of a young girl.) "Iris [sent by Juno-Hera] is bidden cherish the dead bodies [of the Argives who died at Thebes forbidden burial by Kreon (Creon)] of the princes, and laves their decaying limbs with mysterious dews and ambrosial juices, that they may resist the longer and await the pure, nor perish before the flames have seized them. "From the bed of primeval Thaumas his rosyarm consort Elektra (Electra) . ", Nonnus, Dionysiaca 26. 189 ff (trans. : Stesichorus, Fragment 222B (trans. : Then deeply vexed the famed shaker of the earth spoke to her . went swiftly as messenger to the Winds for him. Lamb) (Greek philosopher C4th B.C.) to C1st A.D.) : Mair) (Greek poet C3rd B.C.) . . Her name contains a double meaning, being connected with both the Greek word iris "the rainbow" and eiris "messenger.". She observes the vast assembly, and then, scanning the shore, sees the deserted harbour, the ships left unattended. 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. As cup-bearer of the gods Iris is often indistinguishable from Hebe in art. 467 ff (trans. The ancient Greeks considered Iris the female counterpart of Hermes. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) : Hesiod, Theogony 780 ff (trans. But, dear Lady,--for thou canst-- defend thy servants, who tread the earth at thy behest.’ She came to . She was worshipped as the ideal mother, wife, nature and magic matron. . Then Iris changed her shape, and all unseen she put on the look of dark Nyx unrecognisable. Name: Iris Pronunciation: Coming soon Alternative names: Gender: Female Type: Goddess Celebration or Feast Day: Unknown at present. Quickly she reached the hill of Romulus with Thaumantea [Iris]. Do you take me for a Lydian or a Phrygian and think to frighten me with your big words? "Thaumas and Elektra (Electra) had [children] Iris and the Harpyiai (Harpies) named Aello and Okypete (Ocypete). . A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page. . 270 ff (trans. 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). [1.2] THAUMAS (Plato Theatetus 155d, Callimachus Hymn 5, Ptolemy Hephaestion 6, Ovid Met. [and upon their meeting] the Thaumantian [Iris] rose on swift wings and fled. Iris soared up to Olympos, cleaving the air with her unflagging wings. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) : Rieu) (Greek epic C3rd B.C.) 138 ff (trans. As a messenger, Iris was responsible for the well-being of mankind. The first men who gave names [to the gods] were no ordinary persons, but high thinkers and great talkers . Never does she unloose her girdle or her swift hunting-boots lest her mistress give her some sudden command. 74, &c.). ", Homer, Iliad 2. The iron hammers ceased, the smoky bellows blew no more. 829 (trans. : In the Homeric poems, it is true, Iris does not appear as the goddess of the rainbow, but the rainbow itself is called iris (Il xi. methinks I can hear the rustle of the swift wings of a god from heaven. 189 ff (trans. . . 786 ff (trans. . Iris : I am swift Iris. .’ ", Callimachus, Hymn 4 to Delos 216 ff : Who is also the goddess of messaging. Athenian Black Figure Vase Painting C6th B.C. For the immortal court of Zeus will not receive you without hard work, and the Horai (Horae, Seasons) will not open the gates of Olympos to you unless you have struggled for the prize. Rackham) (Roman rhetorician C1st B.C.) I need her. . Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) : Many Greeks viewed Iris as an important link between mortals and the realm of the gods. ", Ovid, Metamorphoses 1. "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. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) : She would have been one of the Titan Oceanus’ granddaughters. . Template:Cleanup-rewrite In Greek mythology, Iris (Ἴρις) is the personification of the rainbow and messenger of the gods. 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