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Greek Mythology Notes

Euronotus

godΕὐρόνοτος
Wind, south-southeast

God of the south-southeast wind that brought warm humid air from the eastern Mediterranean and Egypt‍​‌​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‍​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍

The Myth of Euronotus

Euronotus was the divine personification of the south-southeast wind in the expanded Greek wind classification system.‍​‌​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‍​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍ His name is a compound of Euros (the east wind) and Notos (the south wind), placing him precisely between the two in the intercardinal direction. Euronotus brought warm, humid air from the direction of Egypt and the Levant, and was associated with muggy, overcast conditions that could persist for days. In the twelve-wind system, he occupied one of the positions that the simpler eight-wind system left unnamed, reflecting the increasing precision of Greek meteorological observation over time. Sailors particularly dreaded Euronotus in certain seasons, as the warm moist air from the southeast could produce sudden fog and poor visibility in the Aegean. The Greeks' meticulous classification of winds into eight, ten, or twelve named deities reflected their dependence on wind patterns for agriculture, warfare, and the maritime trade that sustained their civilisation.

Parents

Eos and Astraeus

Symbols

warm rainfog

Fun Fact

Euronotus was identified by Aristotle in his Meteorologica as one of the twelve winds needed for a complete compass of air currents

Explore Further

Libonotus

god

Wind, south-southwest

God of the south-southwest wind blowing from the direction of Libya, bringing warm air and occasional sandstorms

Apeliotes

god

Wind, east

God of the east wind who brought warm rain beneficial to crops and was considered a gentle and favourable deity

Lips

god

Wind, southwest

God of the southwest wind associated with warm weather and favourable sailing conditions from Libya

Kaikias

god

Wind, northeast

God of the northeast wind associated with cold weather and hailstorms in the Greek wind system

Aparctias

god

Wind, north

Alternative name for the god of the true north wind, sometimes distinguished from Boreas as a calmer northern breeze

Argestes

god

Wind, west-northwest

God of the west-northwest wind whose name means clearing or brightening, associated with fair weather after storms

Eurus

god

wind

God of the east wind, the only one of the four Anemoi not given a specific seasonal role by Hesiod.

Notus

god

wind

God of the south wind, bringer of late summer storms and the hot, damp winds feared by sailors and farmers.

austral

Venti

🐉 creature

personifications

The four wind gods — Boreas, Notus, Eurus, and Zephyrus — each ruling a cardinal direction

borealzephyr

Skiron

god

Wind, northwest

God of the northwest wind associated with the onset of winter and the cold dry air from the Adriatic

Zephyr

💭 concept

Language and meteorology

An English word meaning a gentle, mild breeze, derived from Zephyrus, the Greek god of the west wind who represented the mildest and most pleasant of the four directional winds

zephyr

Zephyrus

god

God of the west wind

Zephyrus was the god of the gentle west wind, bringer of spring.

zephyr