118.) The course of the seasons (or hours) is symbolically described by the dance of the Horae and, in conjunction with the Charites, Hebe, Harmonia, and Aphrodite, they accompany the songs of the Muses, and Apollo's play on the lyre, with their dancing. § 2.) Men in different circumstances regard the course of time (or the seasons) either as rapid or as slow, and both epithets are accordingly applied to the Horae. 125.) As, however, Zeus has the power of gathering and dispersing the clouds, they are in reality only his ministers, and sometimes also those of Hera. 141.) They are kind and benevolent, bringing to gods and men many things that are good and desirable. the regular phases under which Nature manifests herself. 393 ) As the weather, generally speaking, is regulated according to the seasons, they are further described as the goddesses of the seasons, i. In Homer, who neither mentions their parents nor their number, they are the Olympian divinities of the weather and the ministers of Zeus and in this capacity they guard the doors of Olympus, and promote the fertility of the earth, by the various kinds of weather they send down. HORAE (Hôrai), originally the personifications or goddesses of the order of nature and of the seasons, but in later times they were regarded as the goddesses of order in general and of justice. EIAR, THEROS, KHEIMON, PHTHINOPORON (Nonnus Dionysiaca 38.268) EUPORIA, ORTHOSIE, PHEROUSA (Hyginus Fabulae 183)

AUXESIA, DAMIA (Pausanias 9.35.1, Hyginus Fabulae 183) THALLO, KARPO, AUXO (Pausanias 9.35.1, Hyginus Fabulae 183) EUNOMIA, DIKE, EIRENE (Hesiod Theogony 901, Pindar Olympian Ode 13, Greek Lyric V Anon Frag 1018, Apollodorus 1.13, Orphic Hymn 43, Diodorus Siculus 5.72.5, Hyginus Fabulae 183) HELIOS & SELENE (Quintus Smyrnaeus 10.334) ZEUS & THEMIS (Hesiod Theogony 901, Pindar Frag 30, Apollodorus 1.13, Pausanias 5.17.1, Orphic Hymn 43, Hyginus Fabulae 183) The association of agriculture with law and order can also be found in the divinities of Zeus, Demeter and the Daimones Khryseoi.Īnother set of Horai personified the twelve hours of the day. The three were usually named Eunomia (Good Order, Good Pasture), Eirene (Peace, Spring), and Dike (Justice) goddesses who individually represented the conditions required for farming prosperity. The Horai were particularly honoured by farmers who planted and tended their crops in time with the rising and setting of the stars-measures of the passing seasons. The Horai also guarded the gates of Olympos and rallied the stars and constellations of heaven. They presided over the revolutions of the heavenly constellations by which the year was measured, while their three sisters, the Moirae (Moirae) spinned out the web of fate. THE HORAI (Horae) were the goddesses of the seasons and the natural portions of time. Portion of Time, Season The three Horae, Athenian red-figure kylix C5th B.C., Antikensammlung Berlin

Horae goddess