Notus
godGod of the south wind, bringer of late summer storms and the hot, damp winds feared by sailors and farmers.
The Myth
Ancient farmers feared Notus more than any other wind — his warm, wet breath rotted grain on the stalk. While Boreas brought cold and Zephyrus brought spring, Notus delivered destructive fog and late-season storms that Demeter's worshippers dreaded. Aeolus kept him caged with the other Anemoi on the floating island of Aeolia. When Odysseus's crew opened Aeolus's bag of winds, Notus was among those that blew the fleet hopelessly off course. He was also said to have competed with Boreas for the affections of Chloris. Sailors offered prayers to Poseidon specifically to hold Notus at bay during autumn crossings.
Symbols
Fun Fact
The Latin form Auster gives us the word austral — and Australia is literally southern land.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
Astraeus
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Aeolus
godAeolus kept winds in a leather bag on his floating island.
Aeolus (Wind King)
godKeeper of the winds, appointed by Zeus to control the Anemoi from his floating island of Aeolia.
Boreas
godBoreas was the god of the cold north wind, bringer of winter.
Demeter
godGoddess of grain, harvest, and the fertility of the earth. When her daughter Persephone was...
Demeter (Grain)
godDemeter was the goddess of grain, harvest, and fertility whose grief over Persephone's abduction...
Demeter Thesmophoros
godAn epithet of Demeter as bringer of divine law and civilised customs, honoured at the Thesmophoria,...
Eos
godThe rosy-fingered goddess of the dawn who rose each morning to open the gates of heaven for her...
Poseidon
godLord of the seas and brother of Zeus. Poseidon's moods shaped the oceans — calm seas for those who...
Poseidon (Earth-Shaker)
godPoseidon was the god of the sea and earthquakes whose moods determined whether sailors lived or...
Poseidon Hippios
godAn epithet of Poseidon as lord of horses, reflecting his role as creator of the first horse and...
Zephyrus
godZephyrus was the god of the gentle west wind, bringer of spring.