{"id":1046,"date":"2021-11-16T00:36:05","date_gmt":"2021-11-16T00:36:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greekgodsandgoddesses.net\/?post_type=gods&p=1046"},"modified":"2023-08-19T09:07:29","modified_gmt":"2023-08-19T08:07:29","slug":"boreas","status":"publish","type":"gods","link":"https:\/\/greekgodsandgoddesses.net\/gods\/boreas\/","title":{"rendered":"Boreas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ancient Greek mythology<\/a> features many recognizable figures that inspired legends we continue to tell today. While most are familiar with the famous Twelve Olympians, many lessers gods shaped culture and symbolized many core concepts of nature. One of those gods was Boreas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boreas is one of four Anemoi. The Anemoi<\/a> are minor gods who acted as the personification of the winds and changing seasons. They were subject to the god Aeolus<\/a>, the “Keeper of the Winds.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He symbolized the dramatic change of winter and the chilling effects that came with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boreas was the Greek god of the wind from the north. His name translates directly to “north wind.” He was one of four seasonal wind gods. In addition, he was the god of winter. According to mythology, he would sweep down from the Thrake mountains and bring the cold with him, causing the air to chill through the use of his icy breathing. Beyond his home in the mountains was Hyperborea, which was a mythological land where spring lasted forever, untouched by the icy breath of the god.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At one point, Boreas wanted a wife. He chose to carry off Oreithyia, whose name translates as “mountain gale.” She was the daughter of a king of Athens, King Erekhtheus. At the time, the girl had been playing by the riverside in a meadow. Boreas had multiple children with her, including Khione and the Boreades. Khione was the goddess of snow, while the Boreades were a pair of heroes with wings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Art And Lore<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In many pieces of classical art and literature, Boreas and the other seasonal wind gods were pictured in the shape of horses. One old Greek folktale stated that Boreas would sweep down as a wind upon mares toward the end of winter, and that the mares would be fertilized. Horses born from a coupling of Boreas and a mare would be the finest and swiftest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Boreas is depicted on vases, he’s sometimes shown to be a winged and striding god. In some depictions, his beard and hair both have ice spikes. Meanwhile, mosaics tend to depict him as a head blowing gusts of wind among the clouds, his cheeks bloated. This is the kind of imagery that is often found in old maps that were created in later periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though the name Boreas simply means “north wind,” some experts theorize that the word derived from the verb “borao,” which means “to devour.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boreas Origins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The story of Boreas starts with his birth. Boreas was the progeny of Eos<\/a> and Astraeus<\/a>. Astraeus was a titan astrological god of the stars and planet. Meanwhile, Eos was the goddess of the dawn. The two bore four children, which all became the Anemoi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boreas was the god of the north wind and winter. His siblings, Zephyrus<\/a>, Notus<\/a>, and Eurus<\/a>, represented the other cardinal directions. Zephyrus was the god of the west wind, Notus was the south wind, and Eurus was the east wind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The myth says that Boreas resided in Thrace, which was lands north of Thessaly. Some versions of the tale said he lived in a simple cave, leaving to spread his icy breath come winter. However, others depicted his home as a great palace fit for a god. Later tales also speak of Boreas living on the island of Aeolia alongside the Aeolus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Either way, his home was hidden in the Thrace mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further north was Hyperborea, a mythical land beyond the known world with eternal spring. The land was a paradise state in Greek Mythology. The people lived in complete happiness, as the culture was far more advanced than the rest of Greece. Its people, the Hyperboreans, were the only ones who were unaffected by Boreas icy gale. Hyperborea was too far north for even Boreas’ winds to reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boreas Appearance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Depictions of Boreas vary wildly. In most classical art and literature, he was shown as a winged god with icicles for hair. Several oil paintings show his winged form striding forth to bring about the cold winds. However, some artists depicted him as an older man with shaggy hair and a billowing cloak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The latter representation is likely an attempt to indicate his personality. According to legend, Boreas had a strong and violent temper. His ferocity matched the frigid cold he brought, leading to many artists showing him as a grump deity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a whole, the Anemoi often take the shape of horses in art as well. Boreas has a special connection to mares. An Ancient Greek fable said that Boreas would sweep down from Thrace mountain as a wind upon mares. The mares would come down to mate with others, and any horse born from the coupling would be the swiftest around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later Boreas would also appear on maps and mosaics. There, he would take the form of a human head with bloated cheeks, blowing gusts of wind in the clouds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tales of Boreas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As a seasonal god, Boreas would make rare appearances in Greek Mythology. His primary role was to usher in the harsh colds of winter. The god would sweep down from his hideout in the mountains, bringing cold air with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abduction of Orithyia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most well-known stories involving Boreas is the abduction of Orithyia, also spelled Oreithyia. Orithyia was the daughter of King Erechtheus, the king of Athens. Boreas was smitten with the Athenian goddess’ beauty. However, she spurned his advances despite his best efforts to win her over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After repeated attempts to plead her favors, his temper got the best of him. As Orithyia danced on the banks of river Ilisos, he abducted her. The royal attendants attempted to save her, but Boreas wrapped Oreithyia up in a cloud and flew away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He ultimately married Orithyia, turning her immortal and having several children. He had two sons, Zetes and Calais. They were collectively known as the Boreads. The couple also had two daughters, Chione and Cleopatra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additional figures in Greek Mythology were reportedly offspring of Orithyia and Boreas. However, contradicting origins lend little credence to those familial bonds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Relationship with Athenians<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite stealing the Athenian princess, Boreas had a positive relationship with Athens. When Athenians were threatened by the Persian king Xerxes, they prayed to Boreas. In turn, he used his storm winds to sink four hundred invading ships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That moment only strengthened the Athenian view of Boreas. They continued to worship him. The cult of Boreas appeared around 480 BCE. There are many other stories of Boreas saving Athens. The Ancient Greek writer Herodotus credited Boreas with saving Athenians by stopping Persians via stormwind. For that act, they build Boreas a shrine by the river Ilisos, also known as river Ilissus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boreas and Helios<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another interesting Boreas story involves Helios<\/a>, the god of the sun. In this tale, the two gods wanted to see who was most powerful. So, they played a little game where they both tried to remove the clothes off of a traveler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boreas attempted to win by physically blowing the clothes from the traveler’s body. Of course, the cold winds only made him wrap them tighter. Helios took the opposite approach, raising the temperature so that the traveler disrobed on his own accord. Helios won, leaving a disappointed Boreas in his wake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boreas Equine Offspring<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The connection between Boreas and horses isn’t limited to artwork. One Homeric myth says that he bore twelve colt offspring while taking the form of a stallion. The god flew over several horses of King Erichthonius of Dardania. Upon doing so, 12 immortal mares were born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The horses were legendary. Not only were they quick, but they could cross wheat fields without breaking a single ear. The horses passed down, eventually falling under the ownership of King Laomedon of Troy. Those horses were eventually claimed by Hercules<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other possible offspring of Boreas include four horses of Ares, the god of war. Two more immortal horses were said to be born to one of the Harpies<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boreas Trivia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n