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The principal winds are Boreas, Auster, Eurus and Zephyrus. Boreas, God of
the North, carried away Orithya, who refused to receive his addresses. By
her he had Zetes and Calais, Cleopatra and Cheone. He once changed himself
into a horse, to unite himself with the mare of Dardanus, by which he had a
female progeny of twelve, so swift, that they ran or rather flew over the
sea without wetting a foot. The Athenians dedicated altars to him when
Xerxes invaded Europe.
Auster, God of the south wind, appeared generally as an old man with grey
hair, a gloomy countenance, a head covered with clouds, a sable vesture and
dusky wings. He is the dispenser of rain and of all heavy showers.
Eurus, God of the east, is represented as a young man, flying with great
impetuosity, and often appearing in a playful and wanton humour.
Zephyrus, God of the West, the warmest of all the winds, married Flora, and
was said to produce flowers and fruits, by the sweetness of his breath.
Companion of love, he has the figure of a youth, and the wings of a
butterfly.