In Greek mythology, Notus was the god of the south wind. He was one of the Anemoi—the four directional wind gods—each representing a cardinal wind and its associated weather. While his brothers brought cool breezes or stormy gusts, Notus was linked to the hot, dry winds of late summer and early autumn.
Notus was often associated with the end of the growing season, when crops dried and storms could damage fields. Farmers in ancient Greece feared his arrival, as his winds were known to bring heavy rainstorms or dry heat that could harm harvests. Unlike the gentle spring winds, Notus carried a heavier presence, reminding people that nature could be both generous and unpredictable.
As a child of Eos (the dawn) and Astraeus (a god of the dusk and stars), Notus came from a family that symbolized transitions—between night and day, season to season. This made his role even more meaningful. He wasn’t just a force of weather; he also marked the passage of time.
Although Notus doesn’t appear often in major myths, his presence was part of daily life. Sailors and farmers paid close attention to the winds, believing each had a personality and power. Ancient Greeks would sometimes offer prayers or sacrifices to the Anemoi, hoping for favorable conditions. A strong southern wind could make sea travel dangerous, so Notus was both respected and feared.
Notus was usually described as dark, stormy, and moody. Unlike the cold north wind Boreas, or the cheerful west wind Zephyrus, Notus brought uncertainty. His gusts could shift the weather suddenly, signaling change and sometimes chaos. In artwork, he is sometimes shown with wild hair and rain clouds, emphasizing his stormy nature.
Today, Notus lives on in literature and meteorological terms. His name occasionally appears in poetry or fantasy, often symbolizing the end of summer or the arrival of storms. While he may not be as widely recognized as Zeus or Apollo, Notus holds a quiet place in myth as a reminder of nature’s rhythm.
As the god of the southern wind, Notus reminds us that every breeze has a story—and that even the wind can be a powerful character in the myths we pass down.