Eirene
Eirene, the goddess of peace, wasn’t just an advocate for tranquility; her presence heralded the arrival of spring, a season of renewal and flourishing.
Residence: Mount Olympus
Symbols: Cornucopia
Parents: Zeus and Themis
Siblings: The Horae and The Moirae
Roman equivalent: Pax
The Horae, deities of the seasons and keepers of the gates of heaven, embodied essential aspects of a thriving world. Eirene, alongside her sisters Eunomia (Good Order) and Dike (Justice), ensured not just the changing seasons but also the harmony needed for them to flourish.
The very name “Eirene,” echoing the Greek word for peace (eirênê), embodies the essence of this goddess. Interestingly, it also shares a root with words for spring (eiar, eiarinos). This connection wasn’t accidental. In ancient Greece, late spring ushered in the traditional campaign season, a time when the hard-won peace of winter could easily shatter. Eirene, therefore, became a symbol of not just the season’s beauty and renewal, but also the delicate balance needed to sustain it.
Digital Maps of the Ancient World 