The Winds

The Children of Eos (Dawn)

The Winds are Immortals who have chosen the air as their bodies. In the oldest myths there were only four Winds: Boreas (North), Eurus (East), Notus (South) and Zephyros (West). Later, the Classical Greeks embellished the stories and added four new entities to represent the other Winds:

• Apeliotes (South-East)
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• Kaikias (Caicias) (North-East)
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• Libos (South-West)
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• Skiron (Sciron) (North-West)

Boreas (North Wind) in The Iliad

(listed by book and line)

• 05.524 - The Aiantes, Odysseus and Diomedes stood their ground in the face of the charging Trojans, like clouds accumulating around a mountain top when Boreas (North Wind) sleeps; (the Aiantes are Telamonian Aias and Lesser Aias)
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• 09.004 - During the uneasy night, the Achaeans (Achaians) were as troubled as the winds, Boreas (North Wind) and Zephyros (West Wind), when they agitate the sea
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• 19.358 - The soldiers marched into battle as thick as the snowflakes of Zeus borne by Boreas (North Wind)
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• 20.222 - Boreas (North Wind) disguised himself as a dark haired stallion and went among the three thousand horses of king Erichthonios (Erichthonius) and sired twelve colts
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• 23.195 - When the funeral pyre of Patroklos (Patroclus) would not light, Achilles prayed to Boreas (North Wind) and Zephyros (West Wind)
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• 23.208 - At the house of Zephyros (West Wind), Iris tells the assembled winds that Achilles has prayed to Boreas (North Wind) and Zephyros for their help

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Boreas (North Wind) in The Odyssey

(listed by book and line)

• 05.295 - Poseidon staggered the sea with his trident and unleashed a storm on Odysseus; Eurus (East Wind) clashed with Notos (South Wind) and Boreas (North Wind) clashed with Zephyros (West Wind)
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• 05.328 - The remnants of Odysseus’ raft were tossed over the waves like thistles being blown across a field by Boreas (North Wind)
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• 05.331 - Odysseus’ raft was pushed between Notos (South Wind) and Boreas (North Wind) and then again between Eurus (East Wind) and Zephyros (West Wind)
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• 05.385 - As Odysseus fought for his life amidst the wreckage of his raft, Athene (Athena) quieted the other winds and let Boreas (North Wind) carry Odysseus towards the island of the Phaiakians (Phaeacians)
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• 09.067 - Odysseus tells king Alkinoos (Alcinous) that after he escaped the attack by the Kikonians (Cicones), Zeus drove Boreas (North Wind) against his ships
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• 09.081 - Boreas (North Wind) drove Odysseus’ ships to the land of the Lotus Eaters
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• 10.507 - When Odysseus asked Kirke (Circe) directions as to which way to guide his ship, she told him to hoist his sail and let Boreas (North Wind) carry him across Okeanos (Oceanus) to the entrance to the Underworld
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• 13.110 - On the island of Ithaka (Ithaca), the grove sacred to the Naiad nymphs has two entrances, one facing Boreas (North Wind) and the other, more divine entrance, facing Notos (South Wind)
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• 14.253 - The disguised Odysseus tells the swineherd, Eumaios (Eumaeus), that his ship was carried across the sea by Boreas (North Wind)
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• 14.299 - The disguised Odysseus tells the swineherd, Eumaios (Eumaeus), that when he was aboard the slave ship, Boreas (North Wind) carried him around the island of Krete (Crete)
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• 14.475 - The disguised Odysseus tells the swineherd, Eumaios (Eumaeus), of the night when freezing Boreas (North Wind) blew down on his encampment
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• 14.533 - After entertaining the disguised Odysseus, the swineherd, Eumaios (Eumaeus), went outside with his javelin and sheltered himself from Boreas (North Wind) in the hollow of a rock
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• 19.200 - The disguised Odysseus tells Penelope of the time when some harsh Immortal caused Boreas (North Wind) to blow so hard that a man could not stand or walk

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Eurus (East Wind) in The Iliad

(listed by book and line)

• 02.145 - The assembled Achaeans (Achaians) were as turbulent as storm waves on the island of Ikaria (Icaria) when Notos (South Wind) and Eurus (East Wind) blow down from the clouds of Zeus

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Eurus (East Wind) in The Odyssey

(listed by book and line)

• 05.295 - Poseidon staggered the sea with his trident and unleashed a storm on Odysseus; Eurus (East Wind) clashed with Notos (South Wind) and Boreas (North Wind) clashed with Zephyros (West Wind)
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• 05.332 - Odysseus’ raft was pushed between Notos (South Wind) and Boreas (North Wind) and then again between Eurus (East Wind) and Zephyros (West Wind)
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• 12.326 - When Odysseus and his crew landed on Thrinakia (Thrinacia), Notos (South Wind) and Eurus (East Wind) blew continuously and kept them from leaving the sacred island

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Notos (South Wind) in The Iliad

(listed by book and line)

• 02.145 - The assembled Achaeans (Achaians) were as turbulent as storm waves on the island of Ikaria (Icaria) when Notos (South Wind) and Eurus (East Wind) blow down from the clouds of Zeus

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Notos (South Wind) in The Odyssey

(listed by book and line)

• 05.295 - Poseidon staggered the sea with his trident and unleashed a storm on Odysseus; Eurus (East Wind) clashed with Notos (South Wind) and Boreas (North Wind) clashed with Zephyros (West Wind)
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• 05.331 - Odysseus’ raft was pushed between Notos (South Wind) and Boreas (North Wind) and then again between Eurus (East Wind) and Zephyros (West Wind)
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• 12.289 - The crewman, Eurylochos (Eurylochus), complained when Odysseus made them sail at night, saying that they risked destruction from the blasts of Notos (South Wind) or Zephyros (West Wind)
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• 12.325 - Odysseus and his crew were stranded on the island of Thrinakia (Thrinacia) because Notos (South Wind) blew unceasingly for a month
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• 12.326 - When Odysseus and his crew landed on Thrinakia (Thrinacia), Notos (South Wind) and Eurus (East Wind) blew continuously and kept them from leaving the sacred island
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• 12.427 - After the loss of his ship and crew, Odysseus was blown back towards Skylla (Scylla) and Charybdis by Notos (South Wind) after Zephyros (West Wind) ceased blowing
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• 13.111 - On the island of Ithaka (Ithaca), the grove sacred to the Naiad nymphs has two entrances, the one facing Boreas (North Wind) and the other, more divine entrance, facing Notos (South Wind)
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• 19.206 - Penelope cried tears like the snow accumulated by Zephyros (West Wind) and then melted by Notos (South Wind)

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Zephyros (West Wind) in The Iliad

(listed by book and line)

• 09.005 - During the uneasy night, the Achaeans (Achaians) were as troubled as the winds, Boreas (North Wind) and Zephyros (West Wind), when they agitate the sea
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• 23.195 - When the funeral pyre of Patroklos (Patroclus) would not light, Achilles prayed to Boreas (North Wind) and Zephyros (West Wind)
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• 23.200 - Iris found the winds assembled at the house of stormy Zephyros (West Wind)
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• 23.208 - At the house of Zephyros (West Wind), Iris tells the assembled winds that Achilles has prayed to Boreas (North Wind) and Zephyros for their help

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Zephyros (West Wind) in The Odyssey

(listed by book and line)

• 02.421 - Athene (Athena) sent Zephyros (West Wind) to provide a favoring wind to help Telemachos (Telemachus) on his way
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• 04.402 - The goddess, Eidothea, told Menelaos (Menelaus) that Proteus would come out of the sea accompanied by a blast from Zephyros (West Wind)
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• 04.568 - Proteus told Menelaos (Menelaus) that he would go to the Elysian Fields after he died and live in comfort because Okeanos (Oceanus) always sent Zephyros (West Wind) with a refreshing wind for the mortals who lived there
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• 05.295 - Poseidon staggered the sea with his trident and unleashed a storm on Odysseus; Eurus (East Wind) clashed with Notos (South Wind) and Boreas (North Wind) clashed with Zephyros (West Wind)
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• 05.332 - Odysseus’ raft was pushed between Notos (South Wind) and Boreas (North Wind) and then again between Eurus (East Wind) and Zephyros (West Wind)
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• 07.118 - King Alkinoos (Alcinous) tells Odysseus that Zephyros (West Wind) always keeps the fruit ripe in his orchard
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• 10.025 - When Aiolos (Aeolus) gave Odysseus a bag containing the winds, he told him to release only Zephyros (West Wind) so he would be carried home and not blown off course
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• 12.289 - The crewman, Eurylochos (Eurylochus), complained when Odysseus made them sail at night, saying that they risked destruction from the blasts of Notos (South Wind) or Zephyros (West Wind)
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• 12.408 - After leaving the scared island of Thrinakia (Thrinacia), screaming Zephyros (West Wind) attacked Odysseus’ ship and broke it to pieces
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• 12.426 - After the loss of his ship and crew, Odysseus was blown back towards Skylla (Scylla) and Charybdis by Notos (South Wind) after Zephyros (West Wind) ceased blowing
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• 14.458 - When Odysseus slept in the home of the swineherd, Eumaios (Eumaeus), the rain of Zeus fell during the night and Zephyros (West Wind) blew wet and strong
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• 19.206 - Penelope cried tears like the snow accumulated by Zephyros (West Wind) and then melted by Notos (South Wind)

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