Goddess of the RainbowMessenger of the Gods

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Iris was born in the mists of the sky just as the sun came up. She is the personification of the rainbow and is a messenger of the gods. It was said that “as the sun unites Earth and heaven, Iris links the gods to humanity.” She travels with the speed of wind around the world and goes into the sea and underworld as well.

Some of the names that Iris is known as are:

• Rainbow • Aellopus• Thaumantias

• Iris is represented either as a rainbow, or as a young maiden with wings on her shoulders.

• Carries around a “caduceus” (Hermes has one too), which is a staff that is made of two intertwined snakes.

• She also carries a “oinochoe jug”.• Wears a gossamer gown the colour of the rainbow.

• 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.

• She is able to travel faster than anyone else, even the other messenger of the Gods; Hermes.

• She carries an oinochoe jug of water from the Styx, with which she puts to sleep all who go back on their word.

• Iris is the Rainbow, therefore that is the realm that she controls.

• Even though she does not control any other realms, she is able to go around the Earth, to the Underworld, under the sea and in the sky and clouds.

Son:Pothos (God of sexual longing, yearning and

desire)

Iris (Goddess of the Rainbow)

Mother:Electra (Cloud-

nymph

Grandfather:Oceanus (Titan and

World-ocean personified)

Grandmother:Tethys (Archaic Titaness

and Aquatic Sea Goddess)

Father:Thaumas (Marine-God)

GrandfatherPontus (Pre-Olympian

sea-god)

GrandmotherGaia (Primal Greek

Goddess personifying Earth)

Husband:Zephyrus (God of the

West Wind)

• Sisters – Harpies, Aello, Phineus and Ocypete.• Gods – Iris carried messages for all of theGods, especially Hera.• Hera – Brings Hera’sorders to humans, and isknown as her personalmessenger and handmaiden.

Iris delivering a message to Hera.

• Iris does not have her own myth. In myths she appears as a messenger and is usually described as a virgin goddess.

• She features in many myths including;– Hesiod's Theogony

‘Loathed by the immortals, Styx makes her home in the underworld. When a dispute erupts on Olympus, Zeus will send wind-footed Iris to Styx for a pitcher of water. Any immortal who pours the waters of Styx, and swears an oath, is solemnly bound to tell only the truth. The punishment for breaking such an oath is one year without ambrosia, nectar or air. If that's not enough, for nine additional years, the oath-breaker is not allowed to attend the festivals or share the company of the other immortals.’

– Homer’s Iliad‘On this, Iris, fleet as the wind, went forth to carry his message.

Down she plunged into the dark sea midway between Samos and rocky Imbrus; the waters hissed as they closed over her, and she sank into the bottom as the lead at the end of an ox-horn, that is sped to carry death to fishes. She found Thetis sitting in a great cave with the other sea-goddesses gathered round her; there she sat in the midst of them weeping for her noble son who was to fall far from his own land, on the rich plains of Troy. Iris went up to her and said, "Rise Thetis; Jove, whose counsels fail not, bids you come to him." And Thetis answered, "Why does the mighty god so bid me? I am in great grief, and shrink from going in and out among the immortals. Still, I will go, and the word that he may speak shall not be spoken in vain.”’

• http://www.theoi.com/Pontios/Iris.html• http://www.wikipedia.com• http://www.fjkluth.com/iris.html• http://www.iris.aegean.gr/iris/index.php?opti

on=com_content&view=article&id=27&Itemid=55

• http://classics.mit.edu/Homer/iliad.24.xxiv.html (Online book)

• Some photos from Google images.