Wednesday, 1 August 2012

Other Goddesses- Horae


Horae/Horai/Hours- the goddesses of seasons and portions of time. Later they became linked to justice and order. They watched over the heavenly constellations and guarded the gates of Olympus.
Daughters of Zeus and Themis, or Helios and Selene or just Helios, they were named-Thallo/Thalatte (Spring), Auxo and Carpo/Karpo/Carpho/Xarpo (Autumn), who were linked to nature, and Eunomia (Good Order, Good Pasture), Eirene/Irene (Peace, Spring), and Dike (Justice), who were linked to order. Other names included Auxesia, Damia, Euporia/Euporie (abundance), Orthosie (prosperity), Pherousa (substance, farm estates), Hegemone, Eiar (spring), Theros (summer), Kheimon/Cheimon (winter), and Phthinoporon (autumn). They were confused and linked to the Charites.

Thallo was the Horae of spring, buds and shoots, another name for her may have been Hegemone who was mentioned as leader of the Horae. Auxo was either the Horae of summer or probably linked to Auxesia, was also linked to spring growth and said to accompany Persephone, for whom Auxesia was another name. She was linked to Damia, Horae of the fertile earth. They were originally maidens of Crete who were wrongly stoned to death.  Carpo was the Horae of autumn and fruit of the earth, she could be linked to Demeter.

Eunomia was the Horae of good order and conduct and linked to the stability of a state and civil order. Eirene was the Horae of peace and spring was linked to Ploutos the god of wealth and plenty. Dike was the Horae of justice, judgement and rights of custom and law. Sometimes she was said to be a daughter of Nomos/Nomus the daimon of law, with Eusebia the daimon of peity. She was also mother to Hesychia, daimon of quiet and rest, who guarded Hypnos' domain. In one story Dike was born a mortal and placed on earth to keep mankind just, as this was impossible Zeus brought her to Olympus.

Later twelve were created, representing the individual twelve hours of the day between sunrise and sunset. Auge (first light), Anatole/Anatolia (sunrise), Mousika/Musica (hour of music/study), Gymnastica/Gymnastika/Gymnasia (hour of exercise), Nymph (hour of bathing), Mesembria (noon), Sponde (rituals poured after lunch), Elete (prayer, first hour of afternoon), Acte/Akte/Cypris (eating/pleasure), Hesperis (evening), Dysis (sunset), and Arktos (night).

They were linked to the weather and promoted fertility.

With the Charites and Muses they accompanied Apollo.

When Aphrodite came forth from the sea they dressed her.

With the Charites and Peitho they crowned the first woman Pandora with garlands.

Pausanias says they were Hera's handmaidens and with the Charites made her crown.

They also made Ariadne's wedding crown with Aphrodite.

They also accompanied Persephone and Helios.

They were also said to have nursed Hermes, Dionysus, and Apollo's son Aristaeus.

They served ambrosia at Thetis' wedding to Peleus.

Eunomia was described as young and beautiful,  carrying a cornucopia, sceptre and torch. Irene had a Roman counterpart in Pax, the goddess of peace and spring who carried a sceptre, olive branches and torch.

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