Who are the parents of Iris in Greek mythology?
Hesiod's Theogony identifies Iris as the daughter of Thaumas and Electra. Her siblings include the Harpies named Arke and Ocypete.
Questions about Iris (mythology)
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What role did Iris play during the Titanomachy war?
During the Titanomachy, she sided with Olympian gods against Titans. Zeus punished her sister Arke by tearing off wings and gifting them to Thetis at her wedding to Peleus.
How was Iris depicted in ancient art and what items did she carry?
Ancient artists depicted Iris as a winged young woman carrying a caduceus. She often held a pitcher filled with water for the gods and wore a coat of many colors that created rainbows.
Did ancient Greeks build temples dedicated to Iris?
No temples or shrines dedicated to Iris exist in ancient records. Her image appeared on the west pediment of the Parthenon in Athens but festivals held in her honor remain unknown to historians.
Which literary works mention Iris delivering messages from gods to mortals?
Homer's Iliad features Iris frequently delivering divine commands while Virgil's Aeneid depicts her plucking hair from Queen Dido to cause death. Nonnus mentions a brother named Hydaspes in his Dionysiaca.