![]() ![]() Their function was less concerned with the agricultural times of year than with the maintenance of proper order. A new group of Horae emerged that was more closely tied to these ideas of law.ĭike, the goddess of justice, Eunomia, the goddess of order, and Eirene, the goddess of peace, were sometimes worshiped as a triad of Horae, particularly in Athens. ![]() In time, this idea became more pronounced. The marking of the seasons was done according to established, inviolable laws. They were also close companions of the Anemoi, the gods of the winds.Īs daughters of Themis and Zeus, the Horae were associated with natural law and proper order. The three goddesses of the seasons were often shown in the entourage of Persephone. That time of year was controlled by Persephone and marked by her descent into and return from the Underworld. There was traditionally no goddess of winter. These three goddesses were responsible for making sure the three seasons came in the correct order and lasted the appropriate amount of time. They were Thallo, the goddess of spring, Auxo, the goddess of summer, and Carpo, the goddess of autumn. Instead, the Horae were usually shown in charge of the seasons of the agricultural year. This depiction is found nowhere else in classical literature, however. In the Iliad, these three goddesses of the seasons are the keepers of the cloud gate that leads to Olympus. They were usually said to be the daughters of Zeus and Themis, the goddess of law. In most of the Greek world, there were traditionally three Horae. Auxesia and Damia, the seasonal goddesses of summer and winter, were later only recognized in Argos. In the earliest tradition, there appear to have been only two Horae. Over time, however, their role became much more complex. The Horae were traditionally seen as of particular importance to farmers because they controlled the progression of the seasons, and thus the cycle of agricultural work. Their title could be translated as “The Seasons” or “The Hours.” The Horae were goddesses of the progression of time in Greek mythology. In all cases, though, their main role was to maintain order and stability in the world. In some places and times, the Horae were almost unrecognizable as the three original goddesses of the seasons. As Greek society changed, so too did the Horae. Their role was not just to personify the times of the year, but to make sure that they moved in the correct order and at the correct pace.Īs goddesses of natural law, the Horae maintained the stability and order of life in Greece. This is how the people of Greek viewed the Horae, the goddesses of the seasons. One of the most important things for them is that the seasons are the right length and come at the right time. The date is not as important as whether the temperature and rainfall are appropriate for planting, growing, and harvesting their crops.Īn unseasonably cold spring, a wet summer, or an early frost can be disastrous for farmers. In the ancient world as today, farmers are not as concerned with the calendar as they are with if the weather is seasonal. ![]()
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