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This article is about "Chloris" in Greek Mythology. For the genus of tufted grasses in the Poaceae family, also known as "Finger grass" and "Windmill grass", see Chloris (plant). In zoology, it is the name of the subgenus or genus of the greenfinches

"As she talks, her lips breathe spring roses: I was Chloris, who am now called Flora." Ovid

There are many stories in Greek mythology about figures named Chloris ("Khloris" or χλωρις, from "Khloros" or χλωρος, meaning "greenish-yellow," "pale green," "pale," "pallid" or "fresh"). Some clearly refer to different characters; other stories may refer to the same Chloris, but disagree on details.

Chloris (Nymph)

Chloris was a Nymph associated with spring, flowers and new growth. Her Roman equivalent was the goddess Flora. She was abducted by (and later married to) Zephyrus, the west wind, who gave her dominion over spring. Together they had a son, Carpus. Carpus means "fruit" in Ancient Greek, and the natural metaphor formed by the three can be seen in the following quote: "Zephyros... the personification of the West Wind which brings with it freshness and rain in the spring. He would unite with Chloris, goddess of the new vegetation, from which sprout the fresh fruits of the soil."¹

Chloris's festival, Floralia, was celebrated on April 28 to May 1 until the 4th century.

Chloris (Meliboea)

Meliboea was one of Niobe and Amphion's fourteen children (the Niobids), and the only one (or one of two) spared when Artemis and Apollo killed the Niobids in retribution for Niobe's insult to their mother Leto, bragging that she had many children and Leto had only two. Meliboea was so frightened by the ordeal, she turned permanently pale, changing her name to Chloris ("pale one"). This Chloris is referred to in Homer's Odyssey (book 11, lines 281-296).

She was later to marry to Neleus and become queen in Pylos. They had several sons including Nestor, Alastor and Chromius and a daughter Pero. Chloris also had a son, Poriclymenus while married to Neleus, though by some accounts Poriclymenus's father was Poseidon (who was himself Neleus's father). Poseidon gave Poriclymenus the ability to transform into any animal. Other children include Taurus, Asterius, Pylaon, Deimachus, Eurybius, Phrasius, Eurymenes, Evagoras and Epilaus.

Odysseus is said to have encountered Chloris on his journey to Hades (Homer's Odyssey, 11, 281ff).

Chloris (Mother of Mopsus)

Chloris married the seer Ampyx (son of Elatus), with whom she had a child Mopsus who also became a renowned seer and would later join the Argonauts.

Etymology

The word Chloris is from the Greek Khloros meaning "greenish-yellow," "pale green," "pale," "pallid" or "fresh." Words in modern English derived from this root include:

• The name Chloe - a Greek name meaning "green shoot"; another name for Demeter, Greek goddess of agriculture.
• Chlorophyll - a green pigment involved in photosynthesis in plants.
• Chlorine - a chemical element that as a gas is greenish-yellow in color.
• Chlorella - a kind of single-celled green algae, used as a source of protein and B vitamins.
• Chlorosis - an antiquated term for anemia characterized by a green color to the skin, also known as "greensickness", which would probably be called iron deficiency anemia today.
• Chlorosis, in botany is a condition in which plant foliage produces insufficient chlorophyll.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Chloris

• Family tree of the Greek gods

References

Wikipedia content modification information:

• This page was last modified on 24 November 2008, at 13:08.

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