Chloris (nymph)
In Greek mythology, Chloris (/ˈklɔːrɪs/; Greek Χλωρίς Chlōrís, from χλωρός chlōrós, meaning "greenish-yellow", "pale green", "pale", "pallid", or "fresh") was a nymph or goddess who was associated with spring, flowers and new growth, believed to have dwelt in the Elysian Fields.
Mythology[]
Chloris was abducted by Zephyrus, the god of the west wind (which, as Ovid himself points out, was a parallel to the story of his brother Boreas and Orithyia), who transformed her into a deity known as Flora after they were married. Together, they have a son, named Karpos. She was also thought to have been responsible for the transformations of Adonis, Attis, Crocus, Hyacinthus and Narcissus into flowers.[1]
Depictions[]
Zephyr and Flora, c. 1720, by Antonio Corradini, Victoria and Albert Museum
"As she talks, her lips breathe spring roses: I was Chloris, who am now called Flora." Ovid
Zephyrus with Chloris (Flora and Zyphyr) by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, in the Musee des Beau-Arts of the Musées Mulhouse Sud Alsace.
See also[]
- Demeter/Ceres
- Leshy
- List of nature deities
- Orithyia
Citations[]
General references[]
- Publius Ovidius Naso, Fasti translated by James G. Frazer. Online version at the Topos Text Project.
- Publius Ovidius Naso, Fasti. Sir James George Frazer. London; Cambridge, MA. William Heinemann Ltd.; Harvard University Press. 1933. Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
- Nymphs
- Greek deity stubs