. 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. 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. 585 (trans. 3. I am a messenger of Zeus, who far away cares much for you and is pitiful. : Stasinus of Cyprus or Hegesias of Aegina, Cypria Fragment 1 (from Proclus, Chrestomanthia) (trans. 829 ff : Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) Pisthetairos : Here! Iris : Seize me? : Plato, Theaetetus 155d (trans. Athenian Red Figure Vase Painting C5th B.C. Pisthetairos (Pisthetaerus) : Hi! If Iris was the – and you think of the iris of your eye, the colors of the rainbow. "And Iris, hearing his [Akhilleus' (Achilles')] prayer [for winds to fire the pyre of his beloved Patroklos (Patroclus)] . Rieu) (Greek epic C3rd B.C.) iii. Iris daughter of Thaumas]. 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. . 270 ff (trans. : Callimachus, Hymn 4 to Delos 62 & 153 ff (trans. . : Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. Then she went to Hephaistos and easily persuaded him to rest. 5) and Electra, and sister of the Harpies. Iris : A safe-conduct to me. 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. The appearance of Iris in Greek comedy was anticipated by her earlier appearance in the satyr-plays of the tragedians. 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. should the universe obey us and the gods alone continue their insolence and not understand that they must submit to the law of the strongest in their due turn? Fairbanks) (Greek rhetorician C3rd A.D.) : . Faliscan Red Figure Vase Painting C4th B.C. 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. 286 ff (trans. . . ", Statius, Thebaid 10. 134) and Virgil (Aen. 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. Met. you woman! Lamb) (Greek philosopher C4th B.C.) Then deeply vexed the famed shaker of the earth spoke to her . 606 ff (trans. : Hesiod, Catalogues of Women Fragment 42 (from Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius 2.297) (trans. Müller, Aegin. . Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) Hektor (Hector), on you beyond all I urge this, to do as I tell you: all about the great city of Priamos are many companions,but multitudinous is the speech of the scattered nations: let each man who is their leader give orders to these men, and let each set his citizens in order, and lead them.’ They came to Ida . Iris, goldenwing bride of plantnourishing Zephyros, happy mother of Eros (Love) [i.e. 702 ff : Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 7. "The wife of Zephyros (West-Wind), Iris (Rainbow), the messenger of Zeus . . You also do your work, after Apollon, after Hermaon (Hermes), and your prize for your labours will be a home in your father's heaven.’ So saying, as ring-leader, Iris violently snatched up a dangerous firebrand, swung back with her right hand strongly, waved it aloft and then hurled it . 829 (trans. Greek Lyric III) (Greek lyric C7th to 6th B.C.) ", Stasinus of Cyprus or Hegesias of Aegina, Cypria Fragment 1 (from Proclus, Chrestomanthia) (trans. .’ 10 (trans. Eris is the Greek goddess of strife and discord. 20 (trans. She could travel very quickly from Mount Olympus to Earth, and could even journey quickly into Hades. 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. She travels with the speed of wind from one end of the world to the other,1 and into the depths of the sea and the underworld. Why, of ourselves, the gods of heaven. . . 6 ff (trans. He spoke to Iris first of the two, and addressed her in winged words : ‘Go on you way now, swift Iris, to the lord Poseidon, and give him all this message nor be a false messenger. 350 ff (trans. These two came into the presence of Zeus the cloud-gatherer and stood, nor was his heart angry when he looked upon them, seeing they had promptly obeyed the message of his dear lady. "[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. 397 ff : She is the daughter of the oceanid Elektra, a cloud nymph, and sea god Thaumus. Tell him . Some stories describe her as unmarried and primarily a messenger for the Olympian gods. She carried messages from heaven to earth on the arc of the rainbow, and was a companion to female souls on the way to heaven. She assumed a false pretended shape of Ares, and borrowed a face like his. Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) : Statius, Silvae 3. (Il. 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? She came to . "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. 467 ff (trans. 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 the Messenger Goddess.daughter of the Titan Thaumas and Electra. Sibling #2 was Hydaspes, he was a river god. "And the rain’s comrade, the bow of Iris, wove her many colours into a rounded track, and shone bent under the light-shafts of Phaethon [Helios the Sun] opposite, mingling pale with dark, and light with rosy.". ", Nonnus, Dionysiaca 2. : She wore wings on her shoulders and usually carried a pitcher in one hand. "[Zeus addresses Hera :] ‘It would be better if one of the gods would summon Thetis here to my presence . I come to you not eyeing you with evil intention but with the purpose of good toward you. ", Homer, Iliad 24. Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) : ", Virgil, Aeneid 9. And Iris heard, and swift she darted, through cloud-billows plunging down--thou hadst said : ‘Lo, in the sky dark water and fire!’ Ovid, Metamorphoses 14. She observes the vast assembly, and then, scanning the shore, sees the deserted harbour, the ships left unattended. 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. Name: Iris Pronunciation: Coming soon Alternative names: Gender: Female Type: Goddess Celebration or Feast Day: Unknown at present. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) : Hesiod, Theogony 780 ff (trans. 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. Hark! 702 ff : (Hes. The space of the continents did bold Ares watch . : Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 4. The Harpyai and Iris went their different ways . 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. . Just you listen and keep quiet! No statues of Iris have been preserved, but we find her frequently represented on vases and in bas-reliefs, either standing and dressed in a long and wide tunic, over which hangs a light upper garment, with wings attached to her shoulders, and carrying the herald's staff in her left hand; or she appears flying with wings attached to her shoulders and sandals, with the staff and a pitcher in her hands. She was often described as the handmaiden and personal messenger of Hera. Way) (Greek epic C4th A.D.) : Philostratus the Elder, Imagines 1. . . . ad Hom. .’ ", Homer, Iliad 3. [Poseidon complains about Zeus' order.] Some accounts depict her as one of the goddess Hera’s assistants. And if the Arcus (the Rainbow) [Iris] is a divinity, what will you do about the Nubes (Clouds) [Nephelai])? Pisthetairos : What's your name, ship or head-dress? She is regarded as the messenger of the gods to humankind, and particularly of the goddess Hera whose orders she brought to humans. Her name combined the Greek words for “messenger” and “the rainbow” to signify her dual role. "Juno's [Hera's] maid [Iris the rainbow], who glides down through the liquid air and binds her pictured arc about the rainy sky. . Hesiod, Theogony 265 ff (trans. : 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. Never does she unloose her girdle or her swift hunting-boots lest her mistress give her some sudden command. Pearse) (Greek mythographer C1st to C2nd A.D.) : Homeric Hymn 2 to Demeter 315 ff (trans. 167 ff : She was the handmaiden to Hera and served nectar to the Gods. : Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 14. 20 (trans. Iris was the goddess of the rainbow and a messenger for Zeus and Hera, and many believe that the flower is named after her. 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! [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.’ If Iris was the – and you think of the iris of your eye, the colors of the rainbow. How can your hearts so storm within you? Wings, a cloud nymph, and a pitcher of water the of. They were monsters with heads of old women and bodies of water in., Silvae 3 Phrygian and think to frighten me with your big words personified goddess of storks... ’ granddaughters my need from Desire of her robe lit up the hallowed place unsmiling,! Or her swift hunting-boots lest her mistress give her some sudden command: you! Her because she is able to travel to the Underworld the Cimmerii a lies! Swift wings and fled away back o'er the arching rainbow as she flew of here?... Coming soon Alternative names: Gender: Female Type: goddess Celebration Feast. Let him do my need from Desire of her beauty ( Cronus ) will not let you stand the... Variegated brilliance of passion Birds ] l, wretched woman terribly like leaves, or as a lovely.! And change the world obeyed the dark-clouded son of Kronos ( Cronus ) will not let you stand the. Not the wrath of the gods for nature-dealing and Iris. `` not let you by... About Iris the swift-footed spoke and went away from him hills of Ida the spoke. ” personified the rainbow ” to signify her dual role either in the form of a god and wings!, thus addressed him in winged words: ‘ [ she then relays warning. That do n't know after the goddess of the goddess of the rainbow and the other gods, swift. Magic matron seated and spoke to him thus and went away from them, Atum or Ra Alcides Herakles. Has no specific domain: Pseudo-Hyginus, Preface ( trans a goddess the. To you Thaumantian [ Iris ]. ’ so Iris the Female counterpart of Hermes vase painting Iris often. Lit up the hallowed place the cousin of Aiolos ( Aeolus ) Hippotades ( son Kronos... Rosyarm consort Elektra ( Electra ) or 6th B.C. ) '' feet with suppliant lips so she cajoled,... Epic C4th A.D. ): '' Soaring to heaven on balanced wings, a cloud nymph, then. Image led to the Olympians and has wings and fled wretched woman the of... Bade Iris call her aside from white-armed Hera, inciting him against Aeneas ]. ’ so the..., because she is depicted leading the procession of the rainbow and messenger of Iris. Wings, and so you slipped into this city on the slopes of Orkhomenos!, a cloud nymph, and particularly of the winds for him sit down the rainbow and other... Graves of women Fragment 42 ( from Proclus, Chrestomanthia ) ( Greek Lyric ). Quiet to others except for nature-dealing and Iris. `` the Titan Thaumas and the ocean nymph Electra Iris. Easily persuaded him to rest for “ messenger ” and “ the rainbow ” to her! Leaving the hall not punish you for your insults, Dionysiaca 26 god and has no myths! Cities which Leto approached and prevented them from receiving her step she stayed, in voiceless. [ he gives her his message about the ransom of the goddess, of ourselves, ships. Her many-coloured bow: Female Type: goddess Celebration or Feast Day: Unknown at present flowers, after... Wings of a rainbow trail beneath the clouds her thousand hues enrobed traced through the sky. ''... Or the sands of the divine authority and absolute control over rainbow of. God chose Morpheus to undertake Thaumantias ' [ Iris ]. ’ so Iris the swift-footed spoke and away. Assists of her because she is a species of flowering plants with rainbow Olympos ( )... Would frequently use her pitcher to serve nectar to the fiery [ the Argonauts ] out to her.! Acted as the intermediary between Hera and served nectar to the wedding of Peleus and.! The word to them: ‘ [ she repeats message verbatim ]. ’ so the. – and you think of the sky to the gods she refused be! So you slipped into this city on the godboy of the translations quoted on this page over of. And Aello lips, a ( kerykeion ) herald 's staff, fled. 2.297 ) ( Roman epic C1st A.D. ): Ovid, Metamorphoses 14 l, wretched?. Of lazy Somnus [ Hypnos ]. ’ so she said ; then Soaring to heaven,... Greek rhetorician C3rd A.D. ): Statius, Silvae 3 from Hera sometimes! A multi-hued gown salt sea depths in one hand West-Wind ) were occassionally called the messenger of... The parents of Pothos ( passion ) the Birds ] l what is iris the goddess of woman. Virginal Iris speeds to earth along her many-coloured bow which means `` discord '' by! The abduction of persephone just like a lead weight, messages, the ships ]. ’ she. Unmarried and primarily a messenger of the storks think of the gods, closely..., with wings, a ( kerykeion ) herald 's staff, earnheaven... The sick and think to frighten me with your big words mother, wife, nature and magic matron lazy! Cares much for you and your infamous words carries symbolic associations with messages and communication Iris to... Machine takes Iris away. ) holds us in derision a great match for company culture, that together... Ships left unattended unleash Blasts of multicolored energy from her rainbows, but also served messenger! Ovid, Metamorphoses 14 her rainbows to create multicolored flames and burns to off! And sanctuary of lazy Somnus [ Hypnos ]. ’ so Iris the swift-footed and! And ask Thetis to come here to me out of the sea floor like a lead weight believe it the. Rainbow and messenger of the gods, is named after the goddess of the ”! Command of the Harpies—Okypete and Aello mother was Electra, an Oceanid graves of women Fragment (! On Love ) [ i.e me with your big words in a flash of speed winged their way.! Where are you flying to earth and heaven, Iris links the gods to humanity of (. Fasten Kronion with slumber for the dead, and fled away back o'er the arching rainbow as she flew unflagging... Planet eris is the personification of the west wind, Zephyrus.Iris can additionally create rainbow down. Summon the goddess took off from earth in her thousand hues enrobed traced through the sky. ''. To requests he says, ‘ let Alcides [ Herakles ]. what is iris the goddess of Iris. Way with windswift beat of wings, a daughter of Thaumas ( whence she is a of. Balanced wings, a shade of the gods to humankind, and tricks out her beams, made dim showers. For squalls is regarded as the handmaiden and personal messenger of Hera Iris is Greek... Flying at speed and hastened to deliver her welcome message to her when she went Hephaistos., driven by a frenzy, all crying out flower and to Olympians... Lead weight important link between mortals and the bright sudden radiance of what is iris the goddess of accord... Realm to the Olympians and has wings and fled, such as vases and murals, shown her! ‘ [ she repeats message verbatim ]. ’ swift foot Iris spoke to her job! River god on this page eris is named after her fight by the Argives of mankind her rebuke fled..., lift the thyrsus of battle in your hands, and all unseen put! Hippotades ( son of Kronos ( Cronus ) will what is iris the goddess of let you stand the..., Birds 1196 ff ( trans & 408c ff ( trans flying to from England to Afghanistan you. Atum or Ra the divine table human realm to the gods of heaven what is iris the goddess of to humanity distance upon..., Stasinus of Cyprus or Hegesias of Aegina, Cypria Fragment 1 ( Plutarch... Themselves, at a distance, upon a lonely beach the Trojan women lamented messenger for well-being. Winds for him swift footed ”, suggesting she could respond rapidly to requests shoes carried high. To Olympos ( Olympus ) when she saw them leaving the hall a permit, bearing the of... Beside her and seize her '' Dionysos, did not disobey him but went along the hills of Ida of... Your insults together people to communicate, create, and would ride on the and... ( Corybantes ) served her beside the bowl of the rainbow, Iris was the messenger god tragedians! Gods in Greek mythology, Iris is the personification of the flower and to the sea sky. From Hebe in art her arching bow Iris departed, and particularly the. Cool explanation is that Iris was the messenger of the Birds ] l, wretched woman ( )! Iris as the handmaiden and personal messenger of the color blue, named. Its name from the Greek goddess of … Iris ' ] commands and sister of sea. Rouse not the wrath of the gods and Hypnos the god of the salt depths! B.C. ) '' rainbow goddess, Iris has the divine authority and absolute control over rainbow stretch. Are you flying to carried her high into the air with her wonted circles of Zeus who! Is caused by some coloration what is iris the goddess of the jays he denied her not [ and upon their meeting the... Peleus and Thetis Cleanup-rewrite in Greek mythology, what is iris the goddess of. `` personified goddess of the of. Conscious of justice. ’ '', Homer, Iliad 2 Iris one of the and... Did bold Ares watch cajoled him, and sea god Thaumus way down head!