Home/Society & Culture/Mythology & Folklore

Question/Subject:

Aeolus Camelot1244 asked this question on 5/13/2002: According to the story, why does Aeolus, the god of the winds, stop the winds and calm the waves?

beainsc gave this response on 5/13/2002: Greek: AioloV Transliteration: Aiolos Translation: Earth-destroyer? Other Names: 'IppotadhV Transliteration: Hippotades Translation: Son of Hippotas Latin Spelling: Aeolus ======================================== Aiolos was the divine keeper of the Storm-Winds (Anemoi). He kept these violent sons of Typhoeus locked away inside his island of Aiolia releasing them on the command of the gods to wreak their havoc upon the world. He also had at his command the four Wind-Gods - Boreas, Zephyros, Notos & Euros. Parents Odyssey 10.1; Stesichorus Frag 222B, Metamorphoses 14.223: Hippotes (=Poseidon?) Hyginus Fabulae 125: Hellen [Hyginus confuses him with another famous Aiolos] Offspring Odyssey 10.4: 6 x sons & 6 x daughters Metamorphoses 11.472: Alkyone ?We [Odysseus and his men] came to the Aiolian island; here lived Aiolos, son of Hippotas; the deathless gods counted him their friend. His island is a floating one; all round it there is a wall of bronze, unbreakable, and rock rises sheer above it. Twelve children of his live in the palace with him; six are daughters, six are sons in the prime of youth; moreover the king has given his daughters as wives to his sons. These all hold a continual feast with their dear father and much-loved mother; countless dainties are there before them, and through the daytime the hall is rich with savoury smells and murmurous with the sound of music. At night they sleep, each with his own chaste wife, on inlaid bedsteads with coverlets over them. To their city and noble palace we now came, and for a whole month Aiolos gave me hospitality and questioned me on all manner of things, Iliom and the Argive ships and how the Akhaians sailed for home. I duly told him all he desired; then in my turn I asked his leave to depart and begged him to help me on my way. Nor was he unwilling; he set about speeding my return. He gave me a bag made from the hide of a full-grown ox of his, and in the bag he had penned up every Wind that blows whatever its course might be; because Zeus had made him warden of all the winds, to bid each of them rise or fall at his own pleasure. He placed the bag in my own ship?s hold, tied with a glittering silver cord so that through that fastening not even a breath could stray; to the West Wind only he gave commission to blow for me, to carry onwards my ships and men. Yet he was not after all to accomplish his design, because our own folly ruined us. For nine days and through nine nights we sailed on steadily; on the tenth day our own country began to heave in sight; we were near enough to see men tending their fires on shore. It was then that beguiling sleep surprised me; I was tired out, because all this time I had kept my own hands on the steering-oar, never entrusting it to one of the crew, for I wished to speed our journey home. Meanwhile the crew began murmuring among themselves; they were sure I was taking home new presents of gold and silver from Aiolos. One of them would say as he eyed his neighbour: ?What injustice! In whatever city or land he comes to, this man wins everyone?s friendship and regard. He is taking back a mass of fine things from the spoils of Troy, while we who have journeyed with him from the first to last are returning home all empty-handed. And now come these latest gifts that Aiolos in his hospitality had indulged him with. Come, let us look without wasting time. What are these gifts? How much gold and silver is there inside the bag?? Thus the men talked among themselves, and the counsels of folly were what prevailed. They undid the bag, the Winds rushed out all together, and in a moment a tempest had seized my crew and was driving them ? now all in tears ? back to the open sea and away from home. I myself awoke, and wondered if now I should throw myself overboard and be drowned in ocean or if I should bear it all in silence and stay among the living. I did bear it and did remain, but covered my face as I lay on deck. My own ship and the others with it were carried back by raging storm to the island of Aiolos, amid the groaning of all my company. There we set foot ashore and drew water, and without delay my crews and I took our meal by the rapid ships. When we had had our portion of food and drink, I chose to come with me one man as my own attendant and one besides; then I sent up to the place of Aiolos, and found him feasting there with his wife and children. We went in and we sat down at the threshold by the doorposts, while the household asked in deep amazement: ?Odysseus, how is it that you are here again? What malicious god has set upon you? Surely we did our best before to speed you upon your way, meaning to reach your own land and home or whatever place you might desire?? So they spoke, and I said despondently: ?Faithless comrades were my undoing, they and the slumber that betrayed me. But you are my friends; you have the remedy; grant it me.? With these humble words I made my appeal to them. They remained in silence, except the father, who answered me: ?Away from this island, away at once, most despicable of creatures! I am forbidden to welcome here or to help send elsewhere a man whom the blessed gods abhor. This return reveals you as god-forsaken; go!? And with these words he drove me forth despite my pitiful lamentations. Then we sailed onwards sick at heart.? ?Odyssey10.1-77 ?He [Odysseus] related [to Penelope] ? his coming to Aiolos, who received him gladly and sent him upon his way, though his homecoming was still barred by fate, and a tempest caught him up again and drove him in lamentation over the teeming sea.? ?Odyssey 23.309f "The cousin of Aiolos, son of Hippotes." -Greek Lyric III Stesichorus Frag 222B "Odysseus went on to the island of Aiolia, of which Aiolos was king. Zeus had set him up as coordinator of the Winds (Anemoi), for both stopping them and stirring them up. After playing host to Odysseus, he gave him an ox-skin, in which he had tied up the Winds. He explained which Winds would be needed for sailing, and fastened the skin securely in the ship. So Odysseus, by using the correct Winds, had a good voyage, but as they drew near enough to Ithaka to see the smoke rising from the polis, he fell asleep. His comrades, in the belief that he carried gold in the skin, opened it and let the winds escape. Back again they went, captured by the Winds, but when Odysseus made his way to Aiolos to ask for a sailing breeze, Aiolos threw him off the island, saying he could not save him as long as the gods had other ideas." -Apollodorus E7.10 [Hera to Iris:] "Go to Aiolos, king of the Sky-born winds, and to him too convey my wishes, which are that he should order all the winds of heaven to cease. The sea must not be ruffled by a breeze. All I ask for is a soft air from the west, till the lords [the Argonuats] in Argo reach Alkinous? Phaiakian Isle.? ? Last of all, she [Iris] went to Aiolos, the famous son of Hippotas, and when she had given him too her message, she rested her limbs, the errand done." -Argonautica 4.762 ?[Hera to Thetis:] ?I have little doubt that Hephaistos and Aiolos will do what I have told them ? Aiolos will hold his gusty winds in check, letting none but soft Zephyros blow till Argo reaches a Phaiakian port.? ?Argonautica 4.819 "Off this coast [of Italia] lie the islands of the Liparaei, at a distance of two hundred stadia from the Strait. According to some, they are the islands of Aiolos, of whom the Poet makes mention in the Odyssey. They are seven in number and are all within view both from Sicily and from the continent near Medma." -Strabo 7.1.5 "As for Strongyle, [of the Liparai Islands] it is so called from its shape, and it too is fiery; it falls short in the violence of its flame, but excels in the brightness of its light; and this is where Aiolos lived, it is said." -Strabo 6.2.11 ?And he [Odysseus] shall shut up the blustering winds in the hide of an ox.? ?Lycophron 738 ?He [Odysseus] came to Aeolus, son of Hellen, to whom control of the Winds had been given by Jove [Zeus]. He welcomed Ulysses [Odysseus] hospitably, and gave him as a gift a bag full of Winds. But his comrades took it, thinking it to be gold and silver, and when they wished to divide it, they opened the bag secretly, and the Winds rushed out. He was carried again to Aeolus, who cast him out because the divinity of the gods seemed hostile to him.? ?Hyginus Fabulae 125 ?[Zeus plans the great Deluge] Better seemed a different punishment ? to send the rain to fall from every region of the sky and in their deluge drown the human race. Swiftly within the Wind-God?s [Aiolos?] cave he locked the North Wind and the gales that drive away the gathered clouds, and sent the South Wind forth; and out on soaking wings the South Wind flew, his ghastly features veiled in deepest gloom.? ?Metamorphoses 1.260f ?Now in their age-old prison Aeolus had locked the Winds.? ?Metamorphoses 4.658 ?Take no vain comfort in false confidence that my [Alkyone wife of Keyx] great father [Aiolos] rules the Winds of heaven, holding imprisoned all their stormy strength, soothing at will the anger of the seas. When once the Winds are loosed and seize the main, naught is forbidden them; the continents and oceans cower forsaken; in the sky they drive the clouds and with their wild collisions strike fiery lightnings crashing down the world. The more I know them (for I know them well, and in my father?s house, when I was small, I often saw them) my heart fears the more.? ?Metamorphoses 11.427f ?Ceyx [his ship destroyed in a violent storm] in his hand, that once had held the sceptre, clutched a plank, and prayed to his wife?s father [Aiolos] and his own [Hesperos] for help in vain.? ?Metamorphoses 11.564 ?The gods changed both [Keyx and Alkyone] to birds [kingfishers]; the same strange fate they shared, and still their love endured, the bonds of wedlock bound them still, though they were birds. They mate and rear their young and in the winter for seven days of clam Alcyone broods on her nest, borne cradled on the waves. Clam lies the sea. The Wind-God [Aiolos] keeps his squalls imprisoned and forbids the storms to break, and days are tranquil for his grandsons? sake.? ?Metamorphoses 11.742f ?The fleet [of Aeneas] ? left behind Hippotades? [Aiolos?] domain, the smoking land of sulphur fumes.? ?Metamorphoses 14.85 ?Aeolus ruled the Tyrrhene main, Aeolus, son of Hippotes, and held the Winds imprisoned. These, secured within a bull?s-hide bag, Ulysses had received, a memorable gift. Nine days, he said, they sailed with a fair breeze and they had seen the land they sought, but when the tenth day dawned envy and lust fro booty overcame his shipmates. Sure the gold was there, they loosed the lace that held the Winds, and back their ship was blown over the waters she'd just crossed, back to the Wind-King's harbour once again." Metamorphoses 14.223 The goddess [Hera] came to the storm-cloud country, the womb-land of brawling siroccos, Aeolia. Here in a huge cavern King Aeolus keeps curbed and stalled, chained up in durance to his own will, the heaving Winds and far-reverberating Tempests. Behind the bars they bellow, mightily fretting: the mountain is one immense murmur. Aeolus, aloft on his throne of power, sceptre in hands, gentles and disciplines their fierce spirits. Otherwise, they'd be bolting off with the earth and the ocean and the deep sky - yes, brushing them all away into space. But to guard against this the Father of heaven [Zeus] put the Winds in a dark cavern and laid a heap of mountains upon them, and gave them an overlord who was bound by a firm contract to rein them in or give them their head, as he was ordered. Him Juno [Hera] now petitioned. Here are the words she used: - "Aeolus, the king of gods and men has granted you the rule of the winds, to lull the waves or lift them. A breed I have no love for now sails the Tyrrhene sea [Aeneas and his Trojans]. Transporting Troy's defeated gods to Italy. Lash fury into your Winds! Whelm those ships and sink them! Flail the crews apart! Litter the sea with their fragments! Fourteen nymphae I have - their charms are quite out of the common - of whom the fairest in form, Deiopea, I'll join to you in lasting marriage and seal her yours for ever, a reward for this great favour I ask, to live out all the years with you, and make you the father of handsome children." Aeolus answered thus: - "O queen, it is for you to be fully aware what you ask: my duty is to obey. Through you I hold this kingdom, for what it's worth, as Jove?s viceroy; you grant the right to sit at the gods? table; you are the one who makes me grand master of cloud and storm." Thus he spoke, and pointing his spear at the hollow mountain, pushed at its flank: and the Winds, as it were in a solid mass, hurl themselves through the gates and sweep the land with tornadoes. They have fallen upon the sea, they are heaving it up from its deepest abysses, the whole sea - East wind, South, Sou-wester thick with squalls - and bowling great billows at the shore. There follows a shouting of men, a shrilling of stays and halyards. All of a sudden the Storm-clouds are snatching the heavens, the daylight from the eyes of the Trojans; night, black night is fallen on the sea. The welkin explodes, the firmament flickers with thick-and-fast lightning, and everything is threatening the instant death of men ... Even as he cried out thus, a howling gust from the North hit the front of the sail, and a wave climbed the sky. Oars snapped; then the ship yawed, wallowing broadside on to the seas: and then, piled up there, a precipice of sea hung. One vessel was poised on a wave crest; for another the waters, collapsing, showed sea-bottom in the trough: the tide-race boiled with sand. Three times did the South wind spin them towards an ambush of rocks (those sea-girt rocks which Italians call by the name of The Altars), rocks like a giant spine on the sea: three times did the East wind drive them in to the Syrtes shoal, a piteous spectacle - hammering them on the shallows and hemming them round with sandbanks ... Meanwhile Neptune [Poseidon] has felt how greatly the sea is in turmoil, felt the unbridled storm disturbing the water even down to the sea-bed, and sorely troubled has broken surface; he gazes forth on the seep with a pacific mien. He sees the fleet of Aeneas all over the main, dismembered, the Trojans crushed by waves and the sky in ribbons about them: Juno's vindictive stratagems do not escape her brother. He summons the East and the West Winds, and then proceeds to say: -"Does family pride tempt you to such impertinence? Do you really dare, you Winds, without my divine assent to confound earth and sky, and raise this riot of water? You, whom I --! Well, you have made the storm, I must lay it. Next time, I shall not let you so lightly redeem your sins. Now leave, and quickly leave, and tell your overlord this - not to him but me was allotted the stern trident dominion over the seas. His domain is the mountain of rock, your domicile, O East Wind. Let Aeolus be king of that castle and let him keep the Winds locked up in its dungeon." He spoke; and before he had finished, the insurgent sea was calmed." Aeneid 1.50-143 Leukothea, holding the key of calm waters, mistress of good voyage next to Aiolos. Dionysiaca 9.59 Psyollos the harebrained; the bridegroom she [Ankhiroe] held in her arms was the gods' enemy. Notos, that hot wind, once burnt his [Psyllos of Libya's] crops with parching breath; whereupon he fitted out a fleet and gathered a naval swarm of helmeted warriors, to stir up strife against the Aetai (Winds) of the south with avenging doom, eager to kill fiery Notos. To the island of Aiolos sailed the shieldbearing fleet; but the Aetai (Winds) armed themselves and flogged the madman's vessel, volleying with tempestuous tumult in a whirlwind throng of concerted confederate blasts, and sank Psyllos and armament in water grave. Dionysiaca 13.381 Sources: * Homer, The Odyssey - Greek Epic C8th-7th BC * Apollodorus, The Library-Greek Mythography C2nd BC * Apollonius Rhodius, The Argonautica-Greek Epic C3rd BC * Strabo, Geography-Greek Geography C1st BC-C1st AD * Hyginus, Fabulae - Latin Mythography C2nd AD * Ovid, Metamorphoses - Latin Epic C1st BC - C1st AD * Virgil, Aeneid - Latin Epic C1st BC * Nonnos, Dionysiaca - Greek Epic C5th BC

Back to FAQS

Back to beainsc's FAQS