Iris Euphoria: gorgeous irises have long been cultivated by man.
The ancient Greeks named them after the goddess Iris, who is associated with the rainbow and always shown holding a ewer from which she waters the clouds so that there may be a rainbow.
Here a greek amphora shows the goddess, and her name is inscribed on the top of the column in Greek letters. The irises glow in all colors of the rainbow and are said to represent royalty,
fidelity and courage. The French "fleur de lis" is the symbol of French royalty and directly taken from the iris design. |
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