Pisthetairos : Let a buzzard rush at her and seize her. She is regarded as the messenger of the gods to humankind, and particularly of the goddess Hera whose orders she brought to humans. to C1st A.D.) : Virgil, Aeneid 5. ", Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 14. Pisthetairos : By Zeus! All about Iris the Greek Goddess of the rainbow and messenger of the Gods. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) : Faliscan Red Figure Vase Painting C4th B.C. Pisthetairos : What's your name, ship or head-dress? ", Statius, Thebaid 10. .’ 196 ff : 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. Lamb) (Greek philosopher C4th B.C.) She and her siblings—Osiris, Set, and Nephthys —are the last generation of the Ennead, born to Geb, god of the earth, and Nut, goddess of the sky. For I will say this straight out, and it will be a thing accomplished: [He gives her his message. . [Iris] the golden fashioner of clouds . Pisthetairos : No head-bird gave you a safe-conduct? : Homeric Hymn to Delian Apollo 102 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C7th - 4th B.C.) So he commanded. . . 145 ff : : Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) : .’ Where It was the rainbow Goddesses job to collect for the swearing solemn oaths. : Ovid, Metamorphoses 11. Pisthetairos : You would have died nevertheless.-Oh! Iris pointed them [the Argonauts] out to her when she saw them leaving the hall. "Soaring to heaven on balanced wings, [Iris] blazed a rainbow trail beneath the clouds as she flew . The son of Kronos (Cronus) will not let you stand by the Argives. 2. IRIS (Iris), a daughter of Thaumas (whence she is called Thaumantias, Virg. 1. Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) : Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 8. : "Dionysos, did not escape the jealousy of trick-stitching Hera. : Iris : Of which? Then thus began to speak the golden fashioner of clouds : ‘Somnus [Hypnos], gentlest of the gods, Juno [Hera] bids thee bind fast the Sidonian [Theban] leaders and the folk of ruthless Cadmus, who now, puffed up by the issue of fight, are watching in ceaseless vigil the Achaean rampart, and refuse thy sway. 10 (trans. : Callimachus, Hymn 4 to Delos 62 & 153 ff (trans. Iris flies on wind and moves just like a blast of bright air. 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. IRIS was the goddess of the rainbow and the messenger of the Olympian gods. "Juno [Hera] went blithely back [to Olympos after a visit to the Underworld] and Iris Thaumantias (the Rainbow) as she entered heaven again, purged her with sprinkled drops of cleansing rain. 189 ff (trans. The dwarf planet Eris is named after the goddess. Fairbanks) (Greek rhetorician C3rd A.D.) : : . Her Roman equivalent is Discordia, which means "discord". ", Homer, Iliad 11. Like thereto Thaumantias (daughter of Thaumas) sat beside the throne. Iris is often described acting as the intermediary between Hera and Hypnos. Iris forthwith seeks out the Minyae [Argonauts], and Cytherea [Aphrodite] the Colchian maid [Medea] [to arrange their destined meeting and love] . . Then she went to Hephaistos and easily persuaded him to rest. Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) : Iris : Are you mad? Hesiod, Theogony 265 ff (trans. 200 ff (trans. Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) : Nonnus, Dionysiaca 13. But now, spreading her wings, the goddess took off from earth, describing a rainbow arc under the clouds as she flew. fool! 467 ff (trans. "Spreading her wings, the goddess [Iris] took off from earth, describing a rainbow arc under the clouds as she flew. ", Ptolemy Hephaestion, New History Book 6 (summary from Photius, Myriobiblon 190) (trans. "[Jupiter-Zeus] sends down swift Iris (the Rainbow) on her rosy cloud. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) I did some reading up and feel like I'd like to make a connection with her. Iris had some very interesting siblings. "Iris (the Rainbow) the bride of Zephyros (the West Wind) and mother of Pothos (Desire). . Iris of the swift feet stood beside her and spoke to her : ‘Come with me, dear girl, to behold the marvellous things done by Trojans, breaker of horses, and bronze-armoured Akhaians (Achaeans), who just now carried sorrowful war against each other, in the plain, and all their desire was for deadly fighting; now they are all seated in silence, the fighting has ended; they lean on their shields, the tall spears stuck in the ground beside them. Iris is considered a minor goddess. A goddess named “Iris” personified the rainbow in the mythology of ancient Greece. "Like to illumined cloud or to Thaumantias [Iris, the Rainbow] when she ungirds her robe and glides to meet glowing Phoebus [Helios, the Sun]. "Iris informs Menelaos (Menelaus) of what has happened at his home [i.e. [She then relays the warning from Zeus.] "[Zeus addresses Hera :] ‘It would be better if one of the gods would summon Thetis here to my presence . Rheia unsmiling beckoned, and the Korybantes (Corybantes) served her beside the bowl of the divine table. Iris is the Messenger Goddess.daughter of the Titan Thaumas and Electra. in Del. ", Statius, Silvae 5. Iris : I am swift Iris. fool! 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.’ . However, she wasn’t this protective of her fraternal twin Arce (a goddess of the faded rainbow invented at a later date), since she sided with the Titans during the Titanomachy. Iris the swift-foot came close beside her and spoke to her : ‘Rise, Thetis. She found him on the slopes of nuptial Orkhomenos (Orchomenus) . : Ptolemy Hephaestion, New History Book 6 (summary from Photius, Myriobiblon 190) (trans. Unseen by any, the virginal Iris speeds to earth, sliding along the curve of a rainbow of many colours. Her name combined the Greek words for “messenger” and “the rainbow” to signify her dual role. . (The Machine takes Iris away.)". .’ Pisthetairo s: Paralos or Salaminia? 232; Virg. 189 ff (trans. : 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. Why, of ourselves, the gods of heaven. the eros Pothos]. "[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 . Iris would frequently use her pitcher to serve nectar to the gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus. I know nothing about that, not I. 286 ff (trans. She is depicted as a beautiful golden goddess, with wings (for flight), sandals, a staff, and a tunic. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) Persephone, Demeter and Antheia share the same elemental powers of plants. Her name combined the Greek words for “messenger” and “the rainbow” to signify her dual role. In Hesiod’s works, at least, she had the additional duty of carrying water from the River Styx in a ewer whenever the gods had to take a solemn oath. Athenian Black Figure Vase Painting C6th B.C. 10 (trans. Lattimore) (Greek epic C8th B.C.) Iris : Am I dreaming? . She was often described as the handmaiden and personal messenger of Hera. 4.479, Vergil Aeneid 9.2, Cicero De Natura Deorum 3.20), (Alcaeus Frag 257; Eustathius on Homer 555, Nonnus Dionysiaca 47.340). . 168, Hymn. . . Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. "Iris, great Juno's [Hera's] envoy, rainbow-clad. . In Greek vase painting Iris is depicted leading the procession of the gods to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. He spoke, and Iris storm-footed sprang away with the message, and at a point between Samos and Imbros of the high cliffs plunged in the dark water, and the sea crashed moaning about her. . Day-Lewis) (Roman epic C1st B.C.) It is a fine thing when a messenger is conscious of justice.’", Homer, Iliad 18. . She spoke, nor did Hektor fail to mark the word of the goddess. . 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. You poor fool! Pisthetairos : By which gate did you pass through the wal [of the city of the birds]l, wretched woman? : Plato, Theaetetus 155d (trans. Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) : Pisthetairos : Of which gods are you speaking? [came] a messenger of the heavenly ones, Iris.". O'Neill) (Greek comedy C5th to 4th B.C.) ad Hom. 77 ff (trans. Leader of the Chorus [of Birds] : Scan all sides with your glance. .’ (Eustath. Iris : Seize me? "And Iris, hearing his [Akhilleus' (Achilles')] prayer [for winds to fire the pyre of his beloved Patroklos (Patroclus)] . Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) : Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) . With regard to her functions, which we have above briefly described, we may further observe, that the Odyssey never mentions Iris, but only Hermes as the messenger of the gods: in the Iliad, on the other hand, she appears most frequently, and on the most different occasions. to C1st A.D.) : 115 ff : .’ . Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C7th or 6th B.C.) . She spoke so, and went away. . not a beat of your wing! Way) (Greek epic C4th A.D.) : Ovid, Metamorphoses 14. Pyrokinesis: She can use light from her rainbows to create multicolored flames and burns to ward off enemies. The union of the rainbow and west wind symbolised the variegated brilliance of passion. Although initially an obscure goddess, Isis came to fulfill a variety of roles, primarily as wife and mother, mourner, and magical healer. ", Homer, Iliad 15. It is said that Iris saved the lives of her sisters, the Harpies, when she restrained Zetes and Calais, from killing them by promising the Boreads that the Harpies will not bother Phineus anymore. 121 ff : . Iris is the Greek goddess of the rainbow and a messenger goddess as well. 122, xv. Aen. Just you listen and keep quiet! 138 ff (trans. . She threw off her embroidered saffron robes, and put on her head a helmet with nodding plume, donned a delusive corselet, as the mother of battle, a corselet stained with blood, and sent froth from her grim countenance, like a man, battlestirring menaces, all delusion. . 350 ff (trans. 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. 340 ff : Iris : By which gate? As a goddess, Iris is associated with communication, messages, the rainbow, and new endeavors. . Then Iris, in her thousand hues enrobed traced through the sky her arching bow and reached the cloud-hid palace of the drowsy king. "[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 . : Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 14. "But the goddesses [arrived on Delos to attend the labour of the goddess Leto] sent out Iris from the well-set isle to bring Eileithyia . They came to Ida . Iris the swift of foot came close beside and spoke to him: ‘Hektor, o son of Priamos and equal of Zeus in counsel, Zeus my father has sent me down to tell you this message. But Menelaos (Menelaus) the warlike and Alexandros (Alexander) [Paris] will fight with long spears against each other for your possession. The cool explanation is that Iris was the messenger goddess of the Olympian Gods. And if the Arcus (the Rainbow) [Iris] is a divinity, what will you do about the Nubes (Clouds) [Nephelai])? 134) and Virgil (Aen. . : In Greek mythology, Iris is the personification and goddess of the rainbow and messenger of the gods. . She called Iris then, and coaxed her with friendly words : ‘Iris, goldenwing bride of plantnourishing Zephyros, happy mother of Eros (Love) [i.e. . Iris is the Goddess of rainbows. . . Iris : Are there others then? Iris Facts and Figures. . ", Nonnus, Dionysiaca 31. She wore wings on her shoulders and usually carried a pitcher in one hand. Hermeias (Hermes) hardly could win his way to heaven, and only when he had killed with his rod Argos the cowherd, sparkling with eyes from his feet to the hair of his head, and when he had set Ares free from prison [captured in a jar by the Aloidai (Aloadae)]. where, where, are you flying to? ", Hesiod, Theogony 780 ff (trans. 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. Greek Lyric III) (Greek lyric C7th to 6th B.C.) 5) and Electra, and sister of the Harpies. . Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. In myth she appears only as an errand-running messenger and was usually described as a virgin goddess. And Buddhism as a religion, lift the thyrsus of battle in your hands, all... 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