Iris: the Messenger Goddess of Greek Mythology

     Iris is, in Greek Mythology, the Messenger Goddess, as she connects the Earth to Olympus and is also considered to be the fastest being among all deities. It is totally full, check it out.

Iris in Greek Mythology:

     Iris in Greek Mythology, was the daughter of Taumas and Electra; Taumas was the son of Ponto and Gaia and Electra was one of the oceanic, the daughters of Oceano and Tethys. Iris is married to Zefiro. Her sisters were Arce and the harpies: Aelo, Celeno and Ocípite.

     Iris was the personification of the rainbow and messenger of the gods. Like the rainbow to unite the Earth and the sky. Iris is the messenger of the gods for human beings; in this context it is often mentioned in the Iliad, but never in the Odyssey, where Hermes takes her place.

     Her brothers are: Arce, Aelo, Celeno and Ocípite

Marriage:

     The marriage of Iris with Zephyr (God of the wind) was entwined with great passion. Iris and Hermes were rivals in everything, after having loved each other for a long time and he cheated with Aphrodite. Then Iris and Hermes broke up and she was seduced by Zephyr. Although married, Iris is considered a virgin. The rainbow deity not only followed Hera's orders, but focused on connecting the mundane with the celestial, ending up not having time for a love relationship.

Representation:

     Iris is represented as a virgin with golden wings, who moves with the lightness of the wind from one side to another of the world, in the depths of the oceans and in the underground world (Hades). She is especially the messenger of Hera, and is associated with Hermes. Iris was often described as Hera's personal messenger and messenger. In Greek vases, she is represented as a beautiful young woman with golden wings, a kerykeion (messenger stick) and, sometimes, an oinichoe (wine jug). She usually appeared alongside Zeus or Hera, sometimes serving nectar from her jar.

     As a cup of the gods, Iris is often indistinguishable from Hebe in art. For the Greeks, who mostly lived near the sea, the rainbow was most often seen covering the distance between the clouds and the sea and therefore imagined that the goddess replenished the rain clouds with sea water. She was not an evil goddess, although in the stories she helped Hera with Madness to end Hercules' family.

Check: Hermes, God Facts