Īris, is or idis (acc. Irim, Verg. A. 4, 694: Irin, Ov. and App.), f., = Ἶρις,
I the goddess of the rainbow , daughter of Thaumas and Electra , the sister of the Harpies , and the swift-footed messenger of the gods : Irim de caelo misit Saturnia Juno, Verg. A. 5, 606; 4, 700; 9, 803; Ov. M. 1, 271; 11, 631; 14, 830 al.— Voc. Irī, Ov. M. 11, 585.—
II Transf.
A The rainbow : Irin vulgo arcus esse aiunt, quando imago solis vel imago lunae umidam et cavam nubem densamque ad instar speculi colorat, etc., App. de Mundo, 16, p. 64, 10; cf. Sen. Q. N. 1, 3, 1 sqq.: iris erat in circuitu sedis, Vulg. Apoc. 4, 3; Amm. 20, 11, 26. —
B A sweet-smelling plant , perh. the sword-lily , Plin. 21, 7, 19, § 40; Col. 12, 27; 12, 53, 2; Pall. 1, 37, 2. —
C (Iris stone.) A precious stone , prob. a very pure six-sided prismatic crystal , Plin. 37, 9, 52, § 136. —
D A river that flows into the Euxine Sea , Plin. 6, 3, 3, § 8; Val. Fl. 4, 600.