Shrinking Banshee Presents:
Aeolus, Keeper of the Winds
AEOLUS, in
Greek mythology, was the keeper of the winds. He lived on the
floating island Aeolia with his six sons and six daughters. The
god Zeus had given him the power to still and arouse the winds.
When the Greek hero Odysseus visited Aeolus, he was welcomed as
an honored guest. As a parting gift, Aeolus gave him a favoring
wind and a leather bag filled with all the winds. Odysseus's
sailors, thinking the bag contained gold, opened it and were at
once swept back to Aeolia. There Aeolus refused to help them
again.
The Homeric Texts
"Then to the Aeolian isle we came,
where dwelt Aeolus, son of Hippotas, dear to the immortal gods,
in a floating island, and all around it is a wall of unbreakable
bronze, and the cliff runs up sheer. Twelve children of his, too,
there are in the halls, six daughters and six sturdy sons, and he
gave his daughters to his sons to wife. These, then, feast
continually by their dear father and good mother, and before them
lies boundless good cheer. And the house, filled with the savour
of feasting, resounds all about even in the outer court by day,
and by night again they sleep beside their chaste wives on
blankets and on corded bedsteads. To their city, then, and fair
palace did we come, and for a full month he made me welcome and
questioned me about each thing, about Ilios, and the ships of the
Argives, and the return of the Achaeans. And I told him all the
tale in due order. But when I, on my part, asked him that I might
depart and bade him send me on my way, he, too, denied me
nothing, but furthered my sending. He gave me a wallet, made of
the hide of an ox nine years old, which he flayed, and therein he
bound the paths of the blustering winds; for the son of Cronos
had made him keeper of the winds, both to still and to rouse
whatever one he will. And in my hollow ship he bound it fast with
a bright cord of silver, that not a breath might escape, were it
never so slight. But for my furtherance he sent forth the breath
of the West Wind to blow, that it might bear on their way both
ships and men. Yet this he was not to bring to pass, for we were
lost through our own folly.
"For nine days we sailed, night and
day alike, and now on the tenth our native land came in sight,
and lo, we were so near that we saw men tending the beacon fires.
Then upon me came sweet sleep in my weariness, for I had ever
kept in hand the sheet of the ship, and had yielded it to none
other of my comrades, that we might the sooner come to our native
land. But my comrades meanwhile began to speak one to another,
and said that I was bringing home for myself gold and silver as
gifts from Aeolus, the great-hearted son of Hippotas. And thus
would one speak, with a glance at his neighbor:
"'Out on it, how beloved and honored
this man is by all men, to whose city and land soever he comes!
Much goodly treasure is he carrying with him from the land of
Troy from out the spoil, while we, who have accomplished the same
journey as he, are returning, bearing with us empty hands. And
now Aeolus has given him these gifts, granting them freely of his
love. Nay, come, let us quickly see what is here, what store of
gold and silver is in the wallet.'
"So they spoke, and the evil counsel
of my comrades prevailed. They loosed the wallet, and all the
winds leapt forth, and swiftly the storm-wind seized them and
bore them weeping out to sea away from their native land; but as
for me, I awoke, and pondered in my goodly heart whether I should
fling myself from the ship and perish in the sea, or endure in
silence and still remain among the living. However, I endured and
abode, and covering my head lay down in the ship. But the ships
were borne by an evil blast of wind back to the Aeolian isle; and
my comrades groaned.
"There we went ashore and drew water,
and straightway my comrades took their meal by the swift ships.
But when we had tasted of food and drink, I took with me a herald
and one companion and went to the glorious palace of Aeolus, and
I found him feasting beside his wife and his children. So we
entered the house and sat down by the doorposts on the threshold,
and they were amazed at heart, and questioned us:
"'How hast thou come hither, Odysseus?
What cruel god assailed thee? Surely we sent thee forth with
kindly care, that thou mightest reach thy native land and thy
home, and whatever place thou wouldest.'
"So said they, but I with a sorrowing
heart spoke among them and said: 'Bane did my evil comrades work
me, and therewith sleep accursed; but bring ye healing, my
friends, for with you is the power.'
"So I spoke and addressed them with
gentle words, but they were silent. Then their father answered
and said: "'Begone from our island with speed, thou vilest
of all that live. In no wise may I help or send upon his way that
man who is hated of the blessed gods. Begone, for thou comest
hither as one hated of the immortals.'
"So saying, he sent me forth from the
house, groaning heavily. Thence we sailed on, grieved at heart.
And worn was the spirit of the men by the grievous rowing,
because of our own folly, for no longer appeared any breeze to
bear us on our way. So for six days we sailed, night and day
alike, and on the seventh we came to the lofty citadel of Lamus,
even to Telepylus of the Laestrygonians, where herdsman calls to
herdsman as he drives in his flock, and the other answers as he
drives his forth. There a man who never slept could have earned a
double wage, one by herding cattle, and one by pasturing white
sheep; for the out goings of the night and of the day are close
together.
Aeolus Links
Click here to see the
'other' Iolaus, Hercules' Charioteer.
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Image of "Vulcan and Aeolus" by Piero
di Cosimo c. 1495-1500 courtesy the National Gallery of Canada,
Ottawa