The Inviting Iris - Her Associations and Symbolism

Iris

Iris Cards, Watercolor

Iris florentina
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NOTE: Do not take internally
Have been said to be poisonous to dogs and cats

Gender - Feminie 
Planet - Venus
Element​ - Water

The spectacular iris flower comes in almost every color of the rainbow. For that reason, she is named after the Iris, the Greek Goddess of the Rainbow.

The goddess Iris was considered to be the messenger between the sea and sky. Thaumus the Wonderous, her father, was associated with the sea, and her mother, Elektra the Amber, was a nymph of the clouds. The goddess is credited with carrying water from the sea to fill the clouds, and she carried messages between the gods and goddesses in the heavens, particularly Hera, to the people on earth. She had golden wings, and it is said iris flowers spring up every time her feet touch the earth. Eiris, another word very similar to iris, means messenger. She represents both. 

Deep purple iris are often planted on the graves of women. Seeing the the flowers, Iris would accompany the women’s souls  from earth to heaven. 

The colors of the iris send messages based on the language of flowers (scroll down to find color symbolism in the violet and rose blog posts) and her petals and sepals are also symbolic. The three petals, or standards, of the iris reach upward and represent wisdom, faith and courage. The three sepals, pointing downward, symbolize faith, hope and love. 

The Iris was highly prized in Egypt, in particular by King Thutmose III,  considered by many to be the greatest ruler of ancient Egypt. He was an enthusiastic gardener, and when Egypt conquered Syria, he found them growing in abundance. He brought them back to Egypt and they came to be associated with the renewal of life. He was said to have coveted the iris the way some people coveted gold. 

Some of the most popular iris are bearded, dwarf, Japanese, Siberian, Louisiana and Dutch. Do you have a favorite? I hope you’ll enjoy the many types and colors of iris this spring.