The fearsome, turbulent ancient Greek god of the cold north wind, of storms, and of winter, known for his violent temper and raw energy. His home was in icy Thrace.

In Greek mythology, the Anemoi are the personified gods of the directional winds. Born to the Titan Astraeus (god of the stars) and Eos (goddess of the dawn), they are each associated with a specific direction and season. Boreas' three siblings were Zephyrus (the gentle west wind, who brought spring breezes, a soft, benevolent force who warms the earth and nurtures nature as she returns. Notus, the south wind, ushered in the wet, heavy rains and humid storms of late summer and autumn. He was often feared by sailors for destroying crops and creating dangerous maritime fog. The least defined of the four siblings, chaotic, unpredictable Eurus, the east wind, was associated with a mixture of turbulent weather, warmth, and rain.

The abduction of Oreithyia is one of the most famous stories about Boreas. Captivated by the stunning Oreithyia, the daughter of King Erechtheos of Athens, Boreas tried to woo her with gentle persuasion, which soon proved impossible, given his naturally violent and tempestuous nature. So he swept down in a mass of dark, numinous storm clouds, wrapped her in his massive wings and swept her away north, to his icy kingdom of Thrace, where Oreithyia became the immortal queen of the cold north winds.

Together, they had several children, most notably the twin winged heroes Zetes and Calais (known as the Boreads), who later sailed with Jason and the Argonauts.

In 480 BCE, when the fleet of Persian King Xerxes was advancing down the Greek coast, the Athenians, in panic, consulted the oracle at Delphi, which instructed them to 'summon their son-in-law' as an ally. Herodotus continues the story by recounting how the Athenians swiftly realised who this was. Boreas had abducted Oreithyia of course, daughter of their legendary king! Prayers were dutifully offered to him, resulting in a violent storm, multiple Persian losses, and a Greek victory at the Battle of Artemision.

Hephaistos would be amazed by the craftsmanship and quality of this wonderful collection!

These superb bronze pieces are cast in Greece using the traditional lost wax method. As nothing is mass-produced, there will inevitably be slight variations in texture, patina, and colour. No two pieces are ever the same. If mounted, the base is of black marble.

Please note that there may be a variation of some millimetres in the dimensions of the base from time to time, and that accessories such as spears, tridents or javelins may vary in length or height! If you need precise dimensions and weight, email me!

If you need a piece to fit a very specific space, or if you want me to take a photo of a couple of pieces so you can pick the one you want, I will do so with pleasure.

Every piece is deliciously tactile.

It's All Greek is so grateful and so proud to have been working closely with the Semitekolo family foundry since 1999. It has been a privilege and a joy to handle, live with, to photograph and describe these gorgeous pieces, before passing them on to passionate and grateful customers all over the world.

If you already own one of these pieces, cherish it!