In the mythology of the ancient Greeks, rainbows were the personification of the goddess Iris. A leprechaun cursed them for their greedy ways, storing their coveted treasures (you guessed it) at the end of the rainbow, which was just out of their reach. But what is the origin of this legend? The details are a bit obscure, but it’s said the legend sprung from a story about a husband and wife who were farmers. You’re almost certainly familiar with the particulars: a wealth of riches is stored at the end of every rainbow, which is carefully guarded by a leprechaun. The Irish tradition of a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow is certainly not the oldest rainbow myth, but it may be the most pervasive in western culture. However, if you lived hundreds or thousands of years ago, how would you describe the colors of the rainbow? How would you begin to explain its seemingly inexplicable origins? Let’s consider some of these stories to see how various cultures have described rainbows. In each rainbow, you can observe each color of the spectrum: red, orange, yellow, blue, green, and violet. Of course, science teaches us that rainbows are a reflection of the visible spectrum of light - a phenomenon that occurs when light is reflected and dispersed off of faraway water droplets. These distant and aloof bursts of light became the stuff of legends. The closer they tried to get to the rainbow, the more unattainable they became. Legends often start with curious dreamers-men and women who were captivated by the event they were witnessing but couldn’t explain. They may be fictional stories, but that doesn’t mean that these myths are completely free of any facts. Of course, legends about rainbows are just that: legends. Rainbow Myths : Legends That Began In Reality The various legends of rainbows that come from all over the world are a testament to mankind's fascination with this rare meteorological occurrence. Some are so old that we don’t know how they started, while others come from stories in recent history. Throughout history, rainbow myths have become a part of our shared cultures. Of course, the closer you get to a rainbow, the more elusive it is, which only adds to their legendary mystique. For as long as there have been rainbows, there have been dreamers who have been wondering what’s on the other side of these awe-inspiring phenomenons.
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