{"id":997,"date":"2018-06-12T10:44:25","date_gmt":"2018-06-12T09:44:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greekgodsandgoddesses.net\/?post_type=goddesses&p=997"},"modified":"2024-02-21T12:04:14","modified_gmt":"2024-02-21T12:04:14","slug":"iris","status":"publish","type":"goddesses","link":"https:\/\/greekgodsandgoddesses.net\/goddesses\/iris\/","title":{"rendered":"Iris"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
In ancient Greek Mythology, the goddess Iris was revered as the personification of the rainbow. Most works of art depict her either in the form of a beautiful rainbow, or as a lovely maiden. She wore wings on her shoulders and usually carried a pitcher in one hand. Her name combined the Greek words for “messenger” and “the rainbow” to signify her dual role. Some accounts depict her as one of the goddess Hera’s assistants. (Hera<\/a> carries associations with the sky.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ancient Greeks considered Iris the female counterpart of Hermes<\/a>. She served as a messenger from Mount Olympus<\/a>. She would use her pitcher to scoop up water from the ocean and carry it into the clouds. Some legends also hold she used her pitcher to collect water from the River Styx<\/a>, the shadowy river separating the world of human beings from the underworld. Many Greeks viewed Iris as an important link between mortals<\/a> and the realm of the gods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n