Zephyros (or Zephyrus) (West), Tower of Winds in Athens .
A semi naked young man scattering flowers.

In Greek mythology, Zephyrus, or Zephyros (Ζέφυρος) was the gentle god of the west wind, one of the Anemoi. It was thought that Zephyrus lived in a cave on Thrace. He is the son of Eos (Aurora) and Aeolus (or Astraeus) and the brother of Boreas, Eurus and Notus.

He abducted the goddess Chloris and gave her the domain of flowers. With Chloris, he fathered Ampyx, Mopsus and Carpus.

His Roman mythological equivalent was Favonius, who held dominion over plants and flowers.

Hyacinth was a Spartan prince, very handsome and athletic, the lover of Apollo. The pair were practicing throwing the discus when Hyacinth was struck by one, blown off course by Zephyrus, who was jealous of Apollo and loved Hyacinth as well. When Hyacinth died, Apollo created the flower from his blood.

With the harpy Podarge, his lover (also known as Celaeno) he was the father of Balius and Xanthus.

In the story of Cupid and Psyche, Zephyrus served Cupid by transporting Psyche to his cave.

Zephyr crowning Flora, Louis de Boullogne the Younger

Flora and Zephyr, Niccolo Bambini

Flora and Zephyr, Jacopo Amigoni

Flora and Zephyr, Arthur Trevethin Nowell

Flora and the Zephyrs, John William Waterhouse

Links

• Taming the Winds .. (Whatever you wanted to know about Greek and Roman Winds... )
• The Tower of Winds
• Drawing of Boreas
• Botticelli Primavera / Triumph of Spring