The Four Winds of Greek Mythology: Boreas, Notus, Zephyrus, Eurus

The Anemoi: Greek Gods of the Four Winds

In Greek mythology, the winds were personified as the Anemoi—four deities, each governing a cardinal direction and its associated weather.

1. Boreas (Βορέας) – North Wind

• Depiction: Bearded, winged, powerful; often blowing a conch shell.
• Nature: Cold, violent, brings winter, snow, storms.
• Myths: Abducted Orithyia; fathered Calais & Zetes (Argonauts); home in Thrace.

2. Notus (Νότος) – South Wind

• Depiction: Youthful, gentle, wreathed in mist/rain clouds.
• Nature: Warm, humid, brings late summer/autumn storms, fog.
• Myths: Son of Eos & Astraeus; associated with Sirius (dog star) rising.

3. Zephyrus (Ζέφυρος) – West Wind

• Depiction: Beautiful youth, scattering flowers; gentlest wind.
• Nature: Mild, spring-bringing, life-giving.
• Myths: Lover of Chloris (Flora), father of Carpus; abducted Ganymede (variant); husband of Iris (rainbow).

4. Eurus (Εὖρος) – East Wind

• Depiction: Turbulent, stormy; sometimes winged, sometimes serpentine.
• Nature: Unpredictable, brings rain, thunderstorms, autumn chill.
• Myths: Least personified; often conflated with Apeliotes (SE wind). Guardian of the East.

Parents & Siblings

• Children of Eos (Dawn) and Astraeus (Dusk).
• Siblings: Astra Planeta (planets), Eosphorus (Morning Star), Hesperus (Evening Star).

Roman Equivalents

• Boreas → Aquilo / Septentrio
• Notus → Auster
• Zephyrus → Favonius
• Eurus → Vulturnus

The Anemoi appear in Homer, Hesiod, Ovid, and on the Tower of the Winds in Athens (1st c. BC) – the world's first meteorological station.