Home > Myths and Legends of the World > Boreas

In Greek mythology, Boreas was the god of the north wind and the son of Astraeus and Eos, deitiesgod or goddess of the stars and dawn. His brothers were Eurus the east wind, Notus the south wind, and Zephyrus the west wind. Because he was the strongest, Boreas was considered king of all the winds.

Boreas fell in love with Orithyia, daughter of an Athenian king, and carried her off to his home in Thrace. Their children, Zetes and Calais, became winged warriors who journeyed with Jason's Argonaut expedition. The Athenians regarded Boreas as a friendly relative and called for his aid during the Persian Wars.

Virgil(ca. 70-19 B.C.) Roman poet who wrote the Aeneid explaining the founding of Rome mentions Boreas in the Aeneid, as does Shakespeare in his play Troilus and Cressida. Boreas is...