Iris (mythology)

See also: Iris

In the Greek Mythology, Iris , girl of Thaumas and Océanide Electra, was the messenger of the gods, and mainly of Héra, as Hermes was the messenger of Zeus. In Iliade of Homère, it is the messenger of all the immortal gods . Thaumas being wire of Gaïa (Earth), Iris, because of its origin, must be regarded as as ancient as the most former gods. Always sat near the Throne of Héra, it is ready to carry out its orders. Its most important employment was to cut the fatal hair of the women who were going to die, just as Hermes was charged to make leave the bodies the hearts with the men who were going to finish their days. It is it which had care of the apartment as well as bed of its mistress, and which helped it with its toilet. When this goddess returned from the Enfers in the Olympe, it is Iris which purified it with perfumes. Héra had for it an affection without terminals, because it never brought to him but of good news.

One represents it under the figure of a gracious young girl, with brilliant wings of all the joined together colors. The poets claimed that the Arc-en-ciel was the trace of the foot of Iris going down quickly from Olympe towards the ground to carry a message; this is why one generally represents it with the rainbow above or below it.

This celestial phenomenon is indicated also poetically by the name of scarf of Iris.

Iris in the literature

In Iliade, Homère uses the Homeric epithet :