Also called The Winds, Boreas, Zephyrus, Notus, Eurus.
Their story
The Anemoi are the children of Eos and Astraeus: Boreas the north wind, Zephyrus the west, Notus the south, and, in later tradition, Eurus the east. Boreas carried off the Athenian princess Oreithyia, and the Athenians prayed to him as their son-in-law when he wrecked the Persian fleet. Achilles prayed to Boreas and Zephyrus to light the pyre of Patroclus. At Titane near Sicyon a priest made rites to the winds one night each year.
Best times to give to them
- Before a journey, especially by sea or air
- When a storm threatens
- At the change of the seasons
What they like being given
- Incense released into the wind
- Flower petals scattered on the breeze
- Grain scattered for the birds
How to honour them
- Notice which way the wind blows each day and greet it by name.
- Ask Zephyrus for gentle weather in spring and Boreas for relief from heat in summer.
- Hang wind chimes as a small shrine to the winds.
How they can help you
- Safe travel
- Accepting change
- Weather-watching
Symbols
- wings
- conch
- cloak
- flowers (Zephyrus)
The Tower of the Winds in Athens, from the first century BC, shows eight winds.
Sources
- Hesiod, Theogony 378-380, 869-880
- Homer, Iliad 23.192-225
- Herodotus, Histories 7.189
- Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.12.1
More Greek spirits
- The Muses The nine daughters of Memory
- The Moirai Spinners of the thread of life
- The Charites The Graces of joy and charm
- The Horae Keepers of the seasons and order
- The Erinyes Avengers of blood and broken oaths
- The Harpies The snatchers
- The Gorgons The three sisters of the terrible gaze
- The Centaurs The wild horse-men of the hills