Notus: The Powerful God of the South Wind in Greek Mythology

 When the warm winds of late summer sweep across the Greek countryside, the ancients knew exactly who to blame: Notus, the god of the south wind. Unlike the gentle breezes of spring or the biting gusts of winter, Notus carried a dual nature—bringing both life-giving rains and destructive storms. Feared by sailors and farmers alike, he was a powerful force tied not only to the changing seasons but to the delicate balance of daily life in ancient Greece.

Notus: The Powerful God of the South Wind in Greek Mythology

Who Is Notus, the God of the South Wind in Greek Mythology?

Notus is the god of the south wind in Greek mythology, one of the four directional wind deities known as the Anemoi. Associated with late summer and autumn storms, he was believed to bring hot, dry winds followed by sudden, destructive rains. Unlike the gentler breezes of spring or the sharp blasts of winter, the arrival of Notus carried a sense of unpredictability, often tied to harvest times and the changing of the seasons.

What Role Did Notus Play Among the Anemoi?

The Anemoi were the divine personifications of the four cardinal winds, each with a distinct personality and power. Boreas ruled the north wind, Eurus the east, Zephyrus the west, and Notus the south. Among them, Notus was especially feared because his presence often signaled storms, crop damage, or late-season tempests that could undo months of labor in the fields.

Whereas Boreas was associated with icy blasts and Zephyrus with mild spring breezes, Notus embodied the heavy, moisture-laden air that threatened stability. Ancient seafarers regarded him with particular caution, for the south wind could whip calm seas into sudden fury, leading to shipwrecks and perilous journeys.

Why Was the South Wind Important to Ancient Greeks?

To the Greeks, winds were not abstract forces of nature but divine powers with influence over human life. The south wind held special significance because of its connection to agriculture and the cycles of the year. Notus often arrived at the close of summer, bringing rains that could be both nourishing and destructive.

Farmers feared him because a mistimed storm could ruin the grain harvest, rot fruit, or flatten fields. On the other hand, without the moisture carried by the south wind, drought and famine could follow. This dual nature—both giver and destroyer—made Notus a figure of both reverence and anxiety.

How Was Notus Described in Ancient Sources?

Descriptions of Notus vary, but he is often depicted as a powerful, shadowy figure, carrying the storm on his back. Some vase paintings and later artworks show him as a winged man, dark in appearance, representing the heavy rain clouds and oppressive heat of late summer.

The poet Hesiod, in Theogony, lists the winds as children of Eos (the dawn) and Astraeus (the starry one), making Notus a divine being tied both to the heavens and to the cycles of time. This lineage emphasizes the cosmic order of the winds: they were not merely weather patterns but essential elements of balance in the natural world.

What Myths Feature Notus?

While Notus does not have as many personal myths as Boreas or Zephyrus, he appears in several significant episodes of Greek storytelling. In Homer’s Odyssey, the winds play a role in Odysseus’s long journey home. Aeolus, the keeper of the winds, provides Odysseus with a bag containing all winds except the west. When the bag is opened prematurely, the unleashed forces—including Notus—drive Odysseus off course once again, prolonging his wanderings.

Notus also appears in Pindar’s odes, where the south wind is described as a storm-bringer, feared by sailors and farmers alike.

Was Notus Feared More Than the Other Winds?

In many ways, yes. Boreas brought harsh winter, but his cold was expected and cyclical. Zephyrus was generally gentle, heralding spring. Eurus, though less well defined, was often linked with unpredictability. But Notus combined two qualities that made him particularly dreaded: he was both hot and stormy.

The ancients knew that heat and moisture together could bring destruction—either through violent storms or through conditions that spoiled crops. In regions dependent on stable harvests, the sudden arrival of Notus’s winds could feel like divine punishment or a reminder of human vulnerability.

How Did Sailors Interpret the South Wind?

For sailors, the wind was everything. A favorable breeze could shorten a voyage, while an unexpected gust could spell doom. Notus was regarded as one of the most treacherous winds at sea. His storms were often sudden and violent, capable of capsizing ships or driving them onto rocky shores.

Because of this, sailors often prayed to Poseidon, god of the sea, "or made offerings to the Anemoi themselves, hoping to appease Notus and avoid his wrath." Shrines to the winds were built in several Greek cities, including the famous Tower of the Winds in Athens, where Notus was carved as a bearded man pouring water from an urn, symbolizing the rain he carried.

What Did the Tower of the Winds Tell Us About Notus?

The Tower of the Winds, constructed in "the 1st century BCE in Athens," is an octagonal structure featuring carvings of each wind god. Notus appears on the southern side, shown as a serious, powerful figure holding a vessel of water. This imagery captures his essence perfectly: he is not playful or cruel but relentless and necessary, a reminder of nature’s authority.

This depiction also shows how deeply the Greeks integrated the Anemoi into their worldview. Winds were not random—they had direction, character, and divine identity. The south wind was eternal, just as much a part of existence as the sun or sea.

Did Notus Influence Roman Mythology?

Yes. In Roman tradition, Notus was identified with Auster, the god of the hot south wind. The word “austral,” meaning southern, derives from this figure. Like his Greek counterpart, Auster was linked with storms, rain, and oppressive heat. Roman poets, including Virgil and Ovid, used him as a symbol of destructive force, especially when describing floods or agricultural ruin.

This continuation shows the enduring power of the idea: the south wind, in both Greek and Roman thought, embodied danger mixed with necessity. It could not be avoided, only respected.

What Symbols Were Associated with Notus?

Notus was most commonly symbolized by:

• The water jar or urn, representing the rain he carried.

• Dark wings, marking him as a storm-bringer.

• Clouds or veils, signifying his connection to obscured skies.

• The late summer sun, since his arrival often coincided with oppressive heat before autumn storms.

These symbols reinforced his identity not only as a destructive force but also as a natural cycle. His storms ended droughts, filled rivers, and nourished the soil, even if they caused damage along the way.