Iris

iris, in Greek mythology, the goddess of the rainbow. She was the daughter of Thaumas and Electra, and a sister of the Harpies. She lived among the gods on Olympus, but was sent often to bear the messages of the gods to mankind. As Mercury was the special messenger of Zeus, so Iris was of Hera. The ancients believed that it was Iris who caused the clouds to become filled with water to be discharged in rain upon the thirsty earth. Iris is represented in art as a golden winged virgin clad in variegated hues and riding on a rainbow or with a rainbow above her head.