Aeolus and the Wind Gods of Greek Mythology

     Aeolus is the Leader of the Wind Gods of Greek Mythology, being: Boreas, Zephyr, Eurus, Notus and the minors: Cecias, Apeliotes, Lips and Sirocus. Check about these deities below.

The Leader Aeolus:

     The Winds, in Greek Mythology, were commanded by Aeolus, god of the winds. Each was assigned a cardinal direction. Especially the genealogy of the Four Great Winds is controversial, sometimes they are placed as titans, therefore children of Uranus, the sky and Gaia, the earth. However, there are other descriptions. For Hesiod, the sons of Astreus and Eos who are winds are just three: Zephyrus, Boreas and Notus. But in any case, the most accepted version is that these deities are gods. Check out about each of them.

Boreas, the Cold and Violent North Wind:

     Boreas, in Greek Mythology, is the north wind that brought winter or devourer, and, according to Hesiod, son of Astreus and Eos, and brother of Hesperus, Eurus, Zephyr and Notus. He lives in a cave on Mount Haemon, in Thrace. In the Attica legends, he kidnapped Orithya, daughter of Erecteus, with whom he had several children, among whom were the Boréadas, Zetes and Calais, Chione the goddess of snow, Aura twin sister of Chione and Cleopatra, wife of Fineu.

Zephyr, the Gentle to Pleasant West Wind:

     Zephyr or Zephir God in Floral Witchcraft is the God of the West wind. He is one of the sons of Eos and Astreu, being his brothers Boreas, Notus and Eurus. He was married to Iris and lived in a Thrace cave. In Roman mythology, this god was associated with Favonius. The wind myth Zephyr says that this fertilized the mares in a certain region of Lusitania making the horses in this area unusually fast. It appears in the Ode Maritime of Avieno.

     Another of the myths in which Zephyr appears most prominently is that of Jacinto, a handsome and athletic Spartan prince. Zephyr fell in love with Jacintus and courted him, as did Apollo. Both competed for his love, which came to choose Apollo, making Zephyr go crazy with jealousy. Later, when he surprised them by practicing the release of the disc, Zephyr blew a gust of wind over them, causing the disc to hit Jacintus on the head as he fell.

     When Jacintus died, Apollo created the flower of the same name with his blood. In Psyche's story it was Zephyr who served Eros by transporting Psyche to his home.

Eurus, the Storm Maker East Wind:

     Eurus is the southeast wind in Ancient Greek mythology and geography. Its name among the Romans was Vultorno. Higino lists Favonius as one of the four winds, sons of Astreu and Aurora (the others are Zephyrus, Boreas and Notus) but, according to Aulo Gelius favonius, it is the Roman name of the wind that blows opposite the Eurus. This wind is not mentioned by Hesiod as the sons of Eos and Astreus (who are Zephyrus, Boreas, Notus and the stars).

Notus, the South Wind Cloud Maker:

     Notus is responsible for the south wind and according to Hesiod, Eos, goddess of the dawn also called Erigenia, and Astreu had three children, the anemoi (deities responsible for the wind) Zephyr, Boreas and Euro, in addition to several stars, detaching Eosforus, the morning star. Higinus lists the sons of Astreu and Aurora as Zephyr, Boreas, Notus and Eurus. In Roman mythology, it is associated with Austro

     Unlike his brothers Zephyr and Boreas, mythology does not register any son of Lotus. It is responsible for bringing heat and, consequently, associated with summer.

Check: Iris, the Messenger Goddess

The Minor Winds are:

• Sirocus (NO), the northwest wind.
  
• Lips (SO), the southwest wind;
• Apeliotes (SE), the southeast wind;
• Cécias (NE), the northeast wind;

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