Hora

Hora is a term with multiple meanings across myth, language, and culture.

In Greek mythology, the Horae (Hora) are goddesses associated with time and the natural order. They are sometimes described as three sisters—Thallo, Karpo, and Auxo—representing the seasons and growth, or as twelve personifications corresponding to the hours of the day and the months of the year. They figure as attendants to the gods and as symbols of law, order, and seasonal cycles.

In language, hora means “hour” or “time” in several Romance languages, notably Spanish and Portuguese. It appears in phrases related to time, such as discussing hours or scheduling. Related forms include ora in Italian and other cognates in related languages.

In culture, the Hora is a traditional circle dance associated with Romanian folk culture and widely adopted by Jewish communities. Known as the Horah in some contexts, it is performed at weddings and festive occasions, often with participants linked hand-in-hand and sometimes lifted on chairs as music plays.

Geographically and onomastically, Hora can be a surname or a place name in various countries. The term’s meaning depends on historical, linguistic, or cultural context, making it a multi-use word rather than a single, unified concept.