2017-03-27 Mon

Iris or Arcus, the messenger of Olympian Gods traveled with the speed of the wind from one end of the world to the other and into the depths of the sea and the underworld. She traveled on rainbows and carried divine messages to mortals thus becoming the link between God and humanity. She was the personification of the rainbows and was also known as the Goddess of the sea and the sky.

She later married Zephyrus, the God of the west wind and had a son with him- Pothos. Daughter of Thaumas and Electra, she also had a sister called Arke who during the Titanomachy (war between the Titans and Olympians) betrayed Olympians and joined hands with Titans.

She has golden wings as opposed to Arke’s iridescent ones. She was depicted carrying a pitcher filled with water from the River Styx, which she gave to anyone who perjured themselves, putting them to sleep. She also has numerous poetic titles and epithets- Chrysopteron (Golden Winged), Podenemos okea (wind-swift footed), etc.

Greece Post issued this 20 Greek Lepton definitive stamp of Iris in 1911.