blank space sphinx blank space
blank space sphinx blank space
blank space sphinx blank space
blank space sphinx blank space
blank space sphinx blank space
column sphinx column
blank space Site index blank space
blank space Take a Tour blank space
blank space Search Elysium Gates blank space
blank space Keep in touch with others on the message board! blank space
blank space Terms of Service blank space
blank space Join Elysium Gates blank space
blank space blank column blank space
blank space Update your site blank space
blank space Lost your password? blank space
blank space Log into your Elysium Gates Email service blank space
blank space Site Status blank space
blank space blank space blank space
blank space About ElysiumGates.com blank space
blank space Staff blank space
blank space Technical Dept blank space
blank space blank space blank space
blank space Personalized Help blank space
blank space blank space blank space
blank space Contests blank space
blank space Web Rings blank space
blank space Awards blank space
blank space Vote! blank space
blank space blank space blank space
blank space Sites on miscellaneous subjects blank space
blank space Sites on books, poetry blank space
blank space Commercial Sites blank space
blank space Sites on Graphics & Fine Arts blank space
blank space Sites on the past, geneology thru archeology blank space
blank space Sites on science and nature blank space
blank space Sites on music or dance blank space
blank space Sites on Socializing, networking, food, entertainment blank space
blank space sites on drama, film stage, TV blank space
blank space Sites on philosophy, religion, metaphysics, spirituality, beliefs blank space
blank space Cultural orientated sites such as Celtic and Native American blank space
blank space blank space blank space
blank space Enter ElysiumGates.org blank space
blank space Find out about volunteering! blank space
blank space blank marble blank space
blank space Site area volunteers coordinator blank space
blank space Site Area volunteers blank space
blank space technical volunteers blank space
blank space orientation volunteers blank space
blank space blank column blank space
blank space Current Charitable Activities blank space
blank space blank column blank space
blank space blank column blank space
blank space blank column blank space
blank space blank column blank space
column base column base column base
column base column base column base




Historical Iris tile graphic
Traditonal drawing of Iris

In Greek mythology Iris was the messenger of the gods (a female counterpart to Hermes), symbolized by the rainbow (she was the personified goddess of the rainbow) which touches both heaven and earth, the connection between gods and mortals.  She is regarded as the messenger of the gods to mankind, and particularly of the goddess Hera (who was the wife and sister of Zeus, Queen of Heaven) whose orders she brought to humans.  It is told that she used to sleep under Hera's throne with her winged sandals on, ever ready to bear messages.  In ancient Greece, every time a rainbow appeared, it was believed that a message was being carried from Olympus to a mortal or to a God who was away.  She is often shown gliding down a rainbow to deliver her messages to mortals, who looked on her as a guide and adviser.  Her name also means "rainbow," thus implying that her presence is a sign of Hope.

She plays an essential role in The Iliad as the messenger of Zeus.  She is also loyal to other immortals, such as Aphrodite.  When Aphrodite was wounded at Troy, Iris helped her into Aires's war chariot and drove the injured goddess to Olympus to be treated for her wounds.

Among the duties of the Greek Goddess Iris was that of leading the souls of dead women to the Elysian Fields.  In token of that faith the Greeks planted purple Iris on the graves of women.  The Greek symbolism for the iris comes down to us by word of mouth in the form of a myth that was old in Homer's day.  In Hesiod's works, at least, she had the additional duty of carrying water from the River Styx in an ewer whenever the gods had to take a solemn oath.  The water would render unconscious for one year any god or goddess who lied.  Farmers paid tribute to her for lifting water from lakes or streams to the clouds so it could fall again to water their crops. 

In surviving ancient Greek art, she appears mainly on Greek vases.  She is often portrayed as a young woman with wings and her attributes are a herald's staff and a water pitcher.  She was frequently represented with golden wings wearing a long flowing tunic with a rainbow above her or wearing winged sandals much like Hermes with a short tunic.

According to Hesiod, she was the daughter of Thaumas and the ocean nymph Electra.  Iris is also a sister of the Harpies and in some literary works called Thaumantias.  Some literature has Iris, married to Zephyrus, the west wind; other works mention her as the counterpart of Hermes only. 

Find out about our Iris!Return to Mt Olympus

EG logo