Iakchos
( Iacchus )
Minor Greek deity associated with the Eleusinian Mysteries. He was considered the son of Demeter or Persephone. Possibly the husband of Demeter. In the mysteries, his name was invoked in connection with those of Demeter and Persephone. Some believe Iakchos to be identical with Dionysos (as Bacchus) or Zagreus. He was depicted bearing a torch and leading the participants in the mysteries.
Iapetus
( Iapetos )
Greek Titan.
Icarus
( Icarius )
Icarus was young, and not cautious. When he was locked into the tower in Knossos with his father he was bored and petulant. Daedalus however found a way to make wings for him and Icarus in order to escape from the tower. He told Icarus not to fly too high as the sun would melt the wax and the wings would fall apart.
The wings worked and the pair flew away from the tower, and from the island of Crete. However Icarus got so excited by flying that he flew higher and higher until the sun melted the wax, the wings fell apart, and he fell to his death into the sea below.
Ilythia
( none )
Greek goddess of childbirth.
Ino
( none )
Greek heroine who raised the infant Dionysos while herself a child. Later, Hera drove Ino and her husband Athamas mad, and Ino leaped to her death in the sea, carrying her son Melicertes. She was elevated to the rank of sea goddess under the name of Leukothea, and Melicertes became Palaemon.
Io
( none )
Greek priestess of Hera.
Iris
( "Rainbow" )
Greek goddess of the rainbow, and messenger of the gods. She was particularly the agent of Hera. According to Hesiod, she was the daughter of the Titan Thaumas and the nymph Electra. Also in Hesiod, it was her task to draw water from the River Styx which the gods used whenever declaring a solemn oath. She was depicted with wings and her attributes included a herald's staff and a water pitcher.
|
