Irene (also spelt as Eirene) is the Goddess of Peace and a member of The Horae in Greek Mythology.
Contents
- 1 Genealogy and Family
- 2 Appearance and Personality
- 3 Iconography
- 4 Stories
- 5 Significance
- 6 Gallery
- 7 Trivia
Genealogy and Family[]
She is the daughter of Zeus and the Titaness, Themis, her most well known sisters are Dike, the Goddess of Justice, and Eunomia, the Goddess of Law and Legislation, who with her form the second triad of The Horae.
Appearance and Personality[]
Irene is depicted in art as a beautiful, youthful woman, in white garments carrying a cornucopia, sceptre, and a torch or rhyton, usually in the company of her two sister Horai bearing the fruits of the seasons.
Iconography[]
The most famous Ancient Greek Art piece of Irene is a marble statue created by Cephisodotus the Elder, which depicts the Goddess in traditional Greek Robes, holding in her right arm a baby Ploutus, the God of Wealth.
Stories[]
Significance[]
Eirene was particularly well regarded by the citizens of Athens. After a naval victory over Sparta in 375 BC, the Athenians established a cult for Peace, erecting altars to her. They held an annual state sacrifice to her after 371 BC to commemorate the Common Peace of that year and set up a votive statue in her honour in the Agora of Athens. The statue was executed in bronze by Cephisodotus the Elder, likely the father or uncle of the famous sculptor Praxiteles. It was acclaimed by the Athenians, who depicted it on vases and coins.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
The Greek spelling of her name is Εἰρήνη, it means Peace.
Her Roman equivalent is called Pax.
Her opposite is Polemos (War).
