Boreas
(Βορέας). In Greek mythology, the North Wind, son of Astraeus and Eos, brother of Zephyrus, Eurus, and Notus. His home was in the Thracian Salmydessus, on the Black Sea, whither he carried Orithyia from the games on the Ilissus, when her father, Erechtheus, king of Athens, had refused her to him in marriage. Their children were Calaïs and Zetes, the so-called Boreades, Cleopatra , the wife of Phineus, and Chioné, the beloved of Poseidon. (See Eumolpus.) It was this relationship which was referred to in the oracle given to the Athenians, when the fleet of Xerxes was approaching, that “they should call upon their brother-in-law.” Boreas answered their prayer and sacrifice by destroying a part of the enemy's fleet on the promontory of Sepias, whereupon they built him an altar on the banks of the Ilissus.
- invoked by the Athenians before the Persian shipwreck: Hdt. 7.189
- carries off Orithyia: Apollod. 3.15.1, Apollod. 3.15.1, Paus. 1.19.5, Paus. 5.19.1
- father of Zetes and Calais: Apollod. 1.9.17, Apollod. 1.9.21, Apollod. 1.9.21
- with the Argonauts punishes Phineus: Apollod. 1.9.21
- sons of B. chase Harpies from Phineus: Paus. 5.17.11
- father of Chione: Paus. 1.38.2
- bestows on Musaeus the gift of flying: Paus. 1.22.7
- helps Athenians against barbarians: Paus. 1.19.5
- serves the cause of Greece by wrecking the ships of the Medes: Paus. 8.27.14
- saves Megalopolis from Agis and Lacedaemonians: Paus. 8.27.14, Paus. 8.36.6
- precinct of: Paus. 8.36.6
- sacrifices to: Paus. 8.36.6
- men who dwell beyond the north wind: Paus. 5.7.8