As we know, in ancient times there was no faith in any single god, people believed in a multitude of deities, as well as the associated power of nature.And every nation, whether Slavs, Greeks, Romans, Teutons, Gauls, or other tribes had their own gods.
Ancient Greece
This ancient country is remembered to this day because of its rich culture.Hellas was the birthplace of many famous ancient philosophers and writers whose works are known today, scientists who have made an enormous contribution to the science of the time.Also, many people are interested in ancient Greek mythology.It consists of a lot of interesting stories about the gods, titans, and heroes of the various exploits of ancient wars and other events.Many deities passed from Greek mythology, the Roman under other names.
Gods of Olympus
Special attention was paid to the mythology of ancient Greece, of course, the Olympic gods, that is the most powerful.On them is written the greatest number of stories.
Among the gods who lived on the sacred Mount Olympus, were Aphrodite - the goddess of love and beauty;Apollo - the god of art;Artemis - goddess of fertility, hunting and chastity, patron of nature and all living things;Athena - goddess of wisdom and strategy;Themis, personifies justice;Ares - God of military affairs;Hephaestus - the patron god of fire and blacksmiths;Hermes - the god of cunning and trade;Dionysus - the god of wine and merriment;Demeter - the goddess of fertility and patron of farmers;Hades - the patron of the kingdom of the dead;Hestia - goddess of the hearth and the sacrificial fire.
Well, the most important of the gods on Mount Olympus were, as you know, Zeus the Thunderer and his wife Hera.According to legends, it is guarded by a woman in childbirth, and was patroness of marriage and family life.Also on Mount Olympus near the Hero has always been the goddess of the rainbow Iris, her messenger, which at any moment was ready to perform any desired order of the great goddess.She always stood next to the throne of the mighty Hera and was waiting for her orders.
as portrayed by the goddess of the rainbow from the Greeks?
Iris, according to Greek mythology, had wings.Goddess of the rainbow is often depicted with a glass of water in hand.She she delivers water to the clouds.
Iris considered a messenger of the Olympian gods, the mediator between them and the people.The Greeks believed that just as a rainbow connects the earth to the sky, and the goddess Iris connects the people with omnipotent gods.Since she has served as the messenger, it often depicted flying on their large wings.Also, it can often be found in the figures, which are dedicated to Hera.
What was named in honor of the goddess of the rainbow?
According to one legend, in honor of Iris was called beautiful flower iris.The legend says that this plant so-called well-known antique scientist Hippocrates.
also in honor of the deity was named the asteroid, which opened in 1847.
In addition, in honor of the rainbow chemical element called Iridium for the brilliance of its various compounds.For example, the compound of the element atoms with fluorine atoms is light green, iodine - black, iodine and cesium - red, sodium and bromine - violet, potassium and fluorine - white and so on.Iridium itself in its pure form has a silver color.
myths that mention Iris
Greek goddess of the rainbow acting messenger that transmits the news people from the gods.Any special myth in which it would act as the main character does not exist.The goddess Iris is present in the myths of the Argonauts, and is often referred to in the story of the Trojan War.The myths about the war she repeatedly acts as a messenger of the gods.In particular, the goddess of the rainbow appeared to Menelaus, the Spartan king, to notify him that his wife, Helen left the palace, along with Paris, the son of the king of Troy.Also, on behalf of the Olympian gods Iris Trojans brought the news that the three approach to the numerous troops of the Achaeans.Goddess of the rainbow appeared in front of her daughter Helen Priam - king of Troy.She did it to get her to the tower at Skeyskih gate, where many were gathered together to see the match Paris and Menelaus.In addition, at the behest of Zeus the goddess Iris ordered to stop interfering in the war to Poseidon, who took the side of the Achaeans.Iris has been repeatedly mentioned in the cycle of myths about the Trojan War.
family tree Iris
goddess of the rainbow from the Greeks, according to their mythology, was the daughter of Tavmanta (sea-god of miracles) and Oceanides Electra.As the appearance of the rainbow is impossible without rain, and the origin of Iris associated with water deities.
her sister were harpies - terrible mythical creatures guarding the Tartarus.These creatures, according to ancient Greek legends, could steal the soul.
goddess of the rainbow was the mother of Eros - the deity of love, Aphrodite, and served as an assistant to accompany her everywhere.It is also present in Roman mythology named Cupid.
Husband Iris was Zephyr - one of the four gods of wind prevailed in the western part of the world.From him she gave birth to Eros.
Goddess Iris art
goddess of the rainbow in Greece are often portrayed in a variety of reliefs and drawings.They were mostly pictures devoted to the most powerful goddess - Hera, whose messenger was Iris.Most often it was painted on iridescent wings of flying or standing beside his patroness of Hera.
as the main character goddess of the rainbow is represented in the play Achaia Eretriyskogo "Iris."
In addition, this deity also serves as one of the actors of the comedy works of Aristophanes' "The Birds" tragedy "Hercules", written by Euripides.
Greek goddess-messenger devoted to painting by Pierre Narcisse Guérin "Iris and Morpheus," which he created in 1811.It depicts the Greek goddess of the rainbow and the winged god of sleep.
Rainbow in the myths and beliefs of other peoples
In the mythology of the peoples of different countries and the important role given to the rainbow.It is generally associated with a bridge between heaven and earth, the link between ordinary people and the immortal gods.
ancient Slavs there was a belief that the rainbow - it is the way in which the souls of the dead ascend to heaven.The same importance was attached to the rainbow and in Norse mythology.
associated with rainbow and many other interesting beliefs.Thus, the Celts believed that after a severe storm on the spot under the rainbow can be found buried in the earth treasures.
According to Indian legends and stories, it was the place where all the bright colors of the planet after its short-lived bloom on earth.
Many Slavic nations, there is also such a sign: when a woman gave birth to children of the same sex repeatedly, for example, only girls, she should go to the pond, over which hangs a rainbow, and drink out of water.Then the next child will be of the opposite sex.
In Christian iconography of the rainbow is a symbol of divine mercy and justice.
Muslim peoples have believed that the rainbow is made up of four colors (red, yellow, green, blue) and is associated with the four elements.
However, despite its beauty, not all the peoples of the rainbow is considered to be something good.For example, Malaysians believe that if a person is held under it, then he will certainly seriously ill.Hungarians there is a sign that you can not specify a rainbow finger as it wither.In Nicaragua and Honduras, the rainbow is not accepted even to watch, especially children.
