Horae

Horae in Meyers, 1888

In Greek mythology, the Horai, Latinized Horae (Ὧραι — literally translated as "the hours") were three goddesses controlling orderly life. They were daughters of Zeus and Themis, half-sisters to the Moirae.^[1] "They bring and bestow ripeness, they come and go in accordance with the firm law of the periodicities of nature and of life", Karl Kerenyi observed: "Hora means 'the correct moment'."^[2]

The earliest mention of horai is in the Iliad where they appear as keepers of Zeus's cloud gates.^[3] "Hardly any traces of that function are found in the subsequent tradition," Karl Galinsky remarked in passing.^[4] The Horae are mentioned in two variants in Hesiod and the Homeric Hymns. In one, emphasising the "right order" aspect of the Horai, Hesiod says that Zeus wedded "bright Themis" who bore Eunomia, Diké, and Eirene, who were law and order goddesses that maintained the stability of society. They were worshipped primarily in the cities of Athens, Argos and Olympia. In the other variant, emphasizing their fruitful aspect, Thallo, Auxo, and Carpo—the goddesses of the three seasons the Greeks recognized: spring, summer and autumn—were worshipped primarily amongst rural farmers throughout Greece.

Of the first triad, Dike (Δίκη, "justice") was the goddess of moral justice. She ruled over human justice; her mother (Themis) ruled over divine justice. Dike was born a mortal and Zeus placed her on earth to keep mankind just. He quickly learned this was impossible and placed her next to him on Olympus. Eunomia (Εὐνομία, "good order, governance according to good laws") was the goddess of law and legislation. The same or a different goddess may have been a daughter of Hermes and Aphrodite. Eirene, or Irene (Εἰρήνη. "peace"; the Roman equivalent was Pax), was the personification of peace and wealth, and was depicted in art as a beautiful young woman carrying a cornucopia, scepter and a torch or rhyton.

In Hesiod's Works and Days, the fair-haired Horai, together with the Charites and Peitho crown Pandora—she of "all gifts"— with garlands of flowers.^[5] Similarly Aphrodite, emerging from the sea and coming ashore at Cyprus, is dressed and adorned by the Horai,^[6] and, according to a surviving fragment of the epic Cypria,^[7] Aphrodite wore clothing made for her by the Charites and Horai, dyed with spring flowers, such as the Horai themselves wear.

Of the second, more familiar triad, associated with Aphrodite is their origins as emblems of times of life and growth,, Thallo (Θαλλώ, literally "the one who brings blossoms") (or Thalatte) was the goddess of spring, buds and blooms, a protector of youth. Auxo (Αὐξώ. "increaser" as in plant growth; or Auxesia ), was worshipped alongside Hegemone in Athens as one of their two Charites. Carpo (Καρπώ), Carpho or Xarpo was the one who brings food - though Robert Graves in The Greek Myths (1955) translates this name as "withering") was in charge of autumn, ripening, and harvesting, as well as guarding the way to Mount Olympus and letting back the clouds surrounding the mountain if one of the gods left. She was an attendant to Persephone, Aphrodite and Hera, and was also associated with Dionysus, Apollo and Pan.

Thallo and Carpo appear in rites of Attica noted by Pausanias in the second century AD.^[8]

Argive Horae

In Argos two, rather than three Horae were recognised, presumably summer and winter: Damia (possibly another name for Carpo) and Auxesia. In late euhemerist interpretations, they were seen as Cretan maidens who were worshipped as goddesses after they had been wrongfully stoned to death.

Eirene with the infant Ploutos: Roman copy after Kephisodotos' votive statue, c. 370BCE, in the Agora, Athens

Later Horae

Some authors recognise yet a third set of Horae. They were Pherousa (goddess of substance and farm estates), Euporie or Euporia (goddess of abundance), and Orthosie (goddess of prosperity).

Nonnus in his Dionysiaca mentions a set of four Horae: Eiar, Theros, Cheimon and Phthinoporon, the Greek words for spring, summer, winter and autumn respectively.

The Hours

Finally, a quite separate suite of Horae personified the twelve hours (originally only ten), as tutelary goddesses of the times of day. The hours run from just before sunrise to just after sunset, thus winter hours are short, summer hours are long:

• Auge, first light
• Anatole or Anatolia, sunrise
• Mousika or Musica, the morning hour of music and study
• Gymnastika, Gymnastica or Gymnasia, the morning hour of gymnastics/exercise
• Nymphe, the morning hour of ablutions (bathing, washing)
• Mesembria, noon
• Sponde, libations poured after lunch
• Elete, prayer, the first of the afternoon work hours
• Akte, Acte or Cypris, eating and pleasure, the second of the afternoon work hours
• Hesperis, evening
• Dysis, sunset
• Arktos, night sky, constellation

See also

• List of Greek mythological figures
• Class of the Titans
• hora (astrology)

Modern references

The Horai are mentioned by:

• Heinrich Heine
• Alfred Tennyson
• REM, "Moral Kiosk" album "Murmur"

Notes

External links

• Theoi Project: Horai
• Theoi Project: Twelve Horae

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