If we delve into Greek or any other mythology, we will notice that almost every aspect of life, both of nature and humans, is symbolically described. Whether it be the laws of nature such as cyclicity and evolution, or the awakening of human consciousness, these processes are symbolically described through Greek mythology. Some symbols are easier to understand through heroic journeys and overcoming challenges that heroes encounter and conquer within themselves. Other symbols, like the Horae, are more complex due to their disconnection from their sources, and because today’s civilization priorities are not closely related to the symbolic aspect they represent.
The Horae are deities who uphold order, balance, and harmony in nature and in social relationships. Depending on historical periods, their number varies. They have been depicted as two, three, four, ten, eleven, or twelve principles.
According to some sources, they are the daughters of Zeus and Themis, the goddess of justice and lawful order. Pindar, in fragments of his ode, says: “Judgement The nymphs brought to Mount Olympus in a golden carriage from the source of the ocean the first heavenly bride Temida, who shares good advice with us. Then they led her up the holy staircase along that shining path, so that she could be Zeus’ first bride, who grants us good health. She gave birth to the faultless Horae, who have golden diadems. The Horae, who nourish the blossoming apples with their breath.
According to others, they are the daughters of the Sun god Helios and the Moon goddess Selene. It is interesting that they are associated with the Sun god who travels through the sky and divides the day into hours – horae. It was believed that they not only divided the day but also governed the movements of the celestial constellations and guarded the Heavenly Gates.
Because they are connected to various phenomena and processes in nature, they have different names. Sometimes the same name is associated with related phenomena, which makes their symbolism and role even more complex.
When they mark the sequence of seasons, they are mentioned as Anatola, or spring, Tala or summer, and Karpa, or autumn. The spring Hora accompanies Persephone every year on her return from the of the underworld. It was said: “The chamber of Hora is opening,” which meant that spring is coming.
They are the Horai because they determine (horizein) the seasons, summers, winds, and the fruits of the earth: and since they determine, it is fair to call them Horai. – Kratil, Plato
When referring to the phenomenon of growth in nature in all its stages, they are: Tala or Chloris, meaning blooming, Auxa as growth, and Karpa, which in this aspect represents fruits.
There are also the Horai who care for order in nature and society, and in this context, they are the protectors of virtues as the proper measure between deficiency and excess. These are also the most well-known Horai:
Eunomia (good order), as the goddess of order and lawful behavior, symbolically linked to inner stability of a person and therefore the stability of a state, by enacting good laws and maintaining civil order. She was often depicted among Aphrodite’s companions as inspiration for establishing order through the power of love and loyalty.
Dike (justice) was the goddess And natural justice, or the proper balance according to the principle of “what goes around comes around,” like the concept of karma in the East, will be done. Moving away from its original meanings, over time it became identified with customary law. It was depicted as a young, slender woman wearing a laurel wreath and holding a scale as a symbol of balance. Justice, the goddess of justice in Roman mythology, has the same attributes, but also a blindfold, because Justice cannot be deceived by external adornments but seeks the unseen Truth.
Eirene (peace, harmony) is the goddess of peace and spring. Her name is the Greek word for peace (eirênê), but it is also related to the word for spring (eiar, eiarinos). She is depicted as a beautiful young woman carrying a horn of plenty, a scepter, and a torch. Eirene is associated with Talia, one of the Charites, also daughters of Zeus, because Talia is the goddess of blooming, the one who brings forth buds. She is often portrayed as a girl holding with her left hand Pluto, the son of Demeter and the god of abundance. It is an allegory for abundance that flourishes under the protection of peace. Hera.
In Homer’s works, which do not mention their parents or their number, the Horae are Zeus’s helpers and in that role they guard the gates of Olympus and bestow fertility upon the land. They are also the goddesses of time.
As the months wax and wane, and the days pass, and the circle of the year completes, the Horae return annually… (Odyssey)
They adorned Aphrodite as she emerged from the sea and wove a wreath of flowers for Pandora. Dance has always been associated with beauty, aesthetics, and feminine elements, so in one vein, the Horae dance their symbolic dance inspired by the rhythm of nature. In the hymns of Homer, the dance of the Horae, accompanied by the Charites, Hebe, and Harmonia, follows Aphrodite, accompanied by the songs of the Muses and the playing of the lyre or guitar.
O supreme lord of thunder,
who roams through the heavens with a resounding thunder,
O Zeus, your Horae dance in a circle,
to the sweet sound of the lyre…
Pindar, Olympian IV ode
Alternately, ancient virtues
give strength to the human race,
yet the furrows of the fields do not always gleam with abundance,
nor do the trees always bloom with fragrant flowers. It flourishes
throughout the whole year,
because the seasons alternate.
Thus, destiny guides the human race.
Pindar, Odes and Fragments, Nemea XI.
Although less well-known than many other deities, they are often mentioned in ancient texts, whether in Plato’s dialogues, historical books, hymns, or poetry. Considering that they represent aspects of harmony, law, justice, morality, youth, their omnipresence is not so unusual. Those who mentioned them knew the importance of these forces for the spiritual development of the individual and the community.