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In Greek mythology the Horae ( or ) or Hours ((ギリシア語:Ὧραι), ''Hōrai'', , "seasons") were the goddesses of the seasons and the natural portions of time. They were originally the personifications of nature in its different seasonal aspects, but in later times they were regarded as goddesses of order in general and natural justice. "They bring and bestow ripeness, they come and go in accordance with the firm law of the periodicities of nature and of life", Karl Kerenyi observed: "''Hora'' means 'the correct moment'."〔References to the Horai in classical sources are credited in Karl Kerenyi's synthesis of all the mythology, ''The Gods of the Greeks'' 1951, pp 101f and passim (index, "Horai")〕 Traditionally, they guarded the gates of Olympus, promoted the fertility of the earth, and rallied the stars and constellations. The course of the seasons was also symbolically described as the dance of the Horae, and they were accordingly given the attributes of spring flowers, fragrance and graceful freshness. For example, in Hesiod's ''Works and Days'', the fair-haired ''Horai'', together with the Charites and Peitho crown Pandora—she of "all gifts"—with garlands of flowers.〔''Works and Days'' lines 74-75.〕 Similarly Aphrodite, emerging from the sea and coming ashore at Cyprus, is dressed and adorned by the ''Horai'',〔Homeric Hymn 6.5-13.〕 and, according to a surviving fragment of the epic ''Cypria'',〔''Cypria'', fr. 4.〕 Aphrodite wore clothing made for her by the Charites and Horai, dyed with spring flowers, such as the ''Horai'' themselves wear. The number of Horae varied according to different sources, but was most commonly three, either the trio of Thallo, Auxo and Carpo, who were goddesses of the order of nature; or Eunomia, Diké, and Eirene, who were law-and-order goddesses. == The earlier Argive Horae == In Argos, two Horae, rather than three, were recognised presumably winter and summer: Auxesia (possibly another name for Auxo) and Damia (possibly another name for Carpo). In late euhemerist interpretations, they were seen as Cretan maidens who were worshipped as goddesses after they had been wrongfully stoned to death. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Horae」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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