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Anemoi

gods of the winds

In Greek mythology, the Anemoi, or the Winds, were the four sons of the dawn goddess, Eos, and the god of dusk, Astraeus. They each represented a different directional wind: North, East, South, and West.

Zephyrus, the gentle west wind, was the most benevolent of the four and the only one that featured prominently in myth.

The other three, Boreas (north wind), Notus (south wind), and Eurus (east wind), had few characteristics aside from that of the wind they controlled.

Boreas appeared sometimes in myths but as he was identified with the cold north demigods would rather talk to Zephyrus for help.

Of the four chief Anemoi, Boreas was the north wind and bringer of cold winter air; Notus was the south wind and bringer of the storms of late summer and autumn; and Zephyrus was the west wind and bringer of light spring and early summer breezes; Eurus, the east wind, was not associated with any of the three Greek seasons, and is the only one of these four Anemoi not mentioned in Hesiod's Theogony or in the Orphic Hymns.

Additionally, four lesser Anemoi were sometimes referenced, representing the northeast, southeast, northwest, and southwest winds.

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Boreas God of the North Wind and Winter

Boreas was the moody wind of the North and the strongest and speediest of all winds. He was the bringer of snow and hail but, at times, he could prove to be nice and calm as well.

Boreas possessed a splendid white palace in caves on the mountains of Thrace, in the northern part of Greece.

Notus God of the South Wind and Summer

Notos was the refreshing wind of the south. His task was to bring rainclouds and refresh the earth with new life.

Eurus God of the East Wind and Autumn

Euros (also known as Sirocco ) was the Southeast wind in Greek mythology. As a competitor of Zephyros (the West Wind) and Notos (the South Wind), Euros brought rain and tornadoes but also the melting of snow in spring.

Euros was considered as a melancholic and rainy wind. He therefore was usually depicted as an old man with long hair and beard and wearing heavy clothes (usually a cloak).

Zephyrus God of the West Wind and Spring

Zephyr was the gentle wind of the west and the interceder between the World of the living and the Underworld. Zephyr was the fresh wind who brought the spring rains that were so valuable for awakening the nature.

Zephyr was the son of Astraeus and Eos, the goddess of the dawn and he was the father of the spring flowers. His mate was Podarge and together they created the two immortal horses of Achilles, Xanthus and Balius

Zephyrus was the wind that guided Aphrodite to the sea of Paphos when she was born and the only wind Odysseus allowed helping him find his way to Ithaca.

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Sources

[1] "Riordan Wikia"

[2] "Greek Gods Info"





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