Iris

Iris was the Goddess of Rainbows and messenger of Olympian Gods. Her father Thaumas was a marine-god and her mother Elektra was a cloud-nymph. Iris was described as a virgin goddess. Her name has a double meaning, Iris: the rainbow and Eiris: Messenger. Iris was a beautiful young woman with golden wings, a herald’s rod, and sometimes a water-pitcher in her hand. She was usually standing beside Zeus or Hera sometimes serving nectar from her jug. As cup-bearer of the gods Iris is often in art. Her symbol was a rainbow and her sisters where the Fearful Harpies. Iris was said to be born in the mists of the sky just when the sun came out.