Digital publication | Page 17

The Four Winds

By Ana Leyendecker 

Notus, the South, is depicted flying with

harvested grain. He is linked to the heavy moisture-filled wind of autumn and

also to hot wind that would blow after

midsummer, causing the crops to burn.

He was feared as a destroyer of crops

Zephyrus, the West, is seen carrying

the fruits of new spring. He is the

gentlest and most preferred of all the

winds. 

Hopefully you learned a little more about the winds and will remember the breeze of new spring next time you order a venti drink at Starbucks!

Do you enjoy a cool breeze on a summer’s day? Or perhaps curse the biting winter wind while walking to the mailbox? I supposed the Greeks and Romans did too - so here is a little more about the zephyrs of ancient times!

The Anemoi (or the Venti) were children of Aeolus (god of winds) and Eos (the dawn). Each of the four winds was ascribed a cardinal direction, Boreas was the North Wind, Notus the South Wind, Zephyrus the West Wind, and Eurus the East Wind. The winds were kept in the caves of Aeolus and released as Aeolus saw fit. 

Boreas, the North, appears

as a bearded old man with

wings and often holds a

conch shell. He was closely

associated with winter, as

he was the bringer of cold

and low temperatures.

literally is

#coollikeboreas

Eurus, the East, is often depicted blowing up storms. He is known as the storm wind and bringer of hot weather. 

oh yeah...and those guys over there are my brothers