In Greek mythology Aeolus guides wind

Students in Elise Diaz's fifth-grade class at O'Plaine School in Gurnee asked: "In Greek mythology, who is the god of wind?"

The Greek and Roman King of the Winds was Aeolus, who lived on the island of Aeolia.

In the epic story "The Odyssey," Odysseus sailed to Aeolia with his shipmates and received a very powerful gift from King Aeolus - a small bag that contained storm winds. Unfortunately, the sailors' curiosity unleashed a massive storm as they tore open the bag, suspecting it contained gold, leading the travelers even farther astray from their destination.

Since the beginning of time people have wondered about the how and why of nature and about the way the world works. The ancient Greeks and Romans had an understanding that the universe created gods, goddesses, nymphs and all sorts of creatures that caused the seasons to change, the crops to grow and the winds to blow.

Four winds ruled under King Aeolus - Boreas, the north wind (the Romans called him Aquilo), Zephyr, the west wind (also known as Favonius by the Romans), Notus, the south wind (called Auster in Rome) and Eurus, the east wind (the Romans used the same name).