Editing Horae (section)

== Function ==
[[File:Edward John Poynter - Horae Serenae (detail), 1894.jpg|thumb|261x261px|A detail of ''Horae Serenae'' by [[Edward Poynter]] (1894)|right]]

The Horae were originally the personifications of nature in its different seasonal aspects, but in later times they were regarded as goddesses of [[natural order (philosophy)|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, adding "''Hora'' means 'the correct moment'."<ref>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").</ref> Traditionally, they guarded the gates of [[Mount Olympus|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.<ref>[[Hesiod]], ''[[Works and Days]]'' 74-75</ref> Similarly [[Aphrodite]], emerging from the sea and coming ashore at [[Cyprus]], is dressed and adorned by the ''Horai'',<ref>''[[Homeric Hymn]] to Aphrodite'' 6.5-13</ref> and, according to a surviving fragment of the epic ''[[Cypria]]'',<ref>[[Epic Cycle|Epic Cycle Fragments]], ''[[Cypria]]'' fr. 4 as cited in [[Athenaeus]], 15.682 d, f</ref> Aphrodite wore clothing made for her by the Charites and Horai, dyed with spring flowers, such as the ''Horai'' themselves wear.{{Greek myth (personified)}}