Graces, in Greek mythology, were daughters of Zeus, king of the gods, and the nymph Eurynome. The Graces served as patron goddesses of the arts and were the favored companions of the goddess Aphrodite. They were keepers of oaths of loyalty that young men often made in their name. The Graces also bestowed beauty on girls and gentleness or “grace” on poetry. The number of Graces varied among ancient sources, but there were usually three: Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia.
In art, the Graces are portrayed embracing or holding hands, and clothed in flowing garments. They stand in the foreground of Sandro Botticelli’s famous Renaissance painting La Primavera.
See also Aphrodite.
