Compass Directions

Putting elemental associations behind, let us look at some Indo-European mythology concerning the directions. I hope this will be not just interesting but helpful too.

East: This word comes from the proto-Indo-European (PIE) for "shine red". This is the direction of the equinox sunrise. The wind that blows from the East, toward the West, was personified as Eurus by the ancient Greeks. He is the bringer of warmth and rain. His symbol was an inverted vase, spilling water. His Roman equivalent is Vulturnus. The Germanic name is Ostroni. In Hinduism the Guardians of the East are Indra and his consort Sachi. They are the Lord and Lady of war and thunderstorms. Their weapon is the thunderbolt and their "planet" is the Sun.

Southeast: This is the direction of the winter sunrise. This wind was personified as Apeliotus by the ancient Greeks. He was thought to cause a refreshing rain particularly beneficial to farmers, and was often depicted wearing gumboots and carrying fruit, draped in a light cloth concealing some flowers or grain. He is cleanshaven, with curly hair and a friendly expression. His Roman equivalent is Subsolanus. The Germanic name is Ostsundroni.  In Hinduism the Guardians of the Southeast are Agni and his consort Svaha. They are the Lord and Lady of fire, sacrifices and offerings. Their weapon is the spear and their planet is Venus. 

South: This word comes from the PIE for "seethe, boil". This is the direction of noon. The ancient Greeks The wind that blows from the South, toward the North, was personified as Notus by the ancient Greeks. He is the bringer of late summer and autumn storms and was feared as a destroyer of crops. His Roman equivalent is Auster, who brings heavy cloud cover, fog and humidity. The Germanic name is Sundroni. In Hinduism the Guardians of the South are Yama and his consort Yami. They are the Lord and Lady of death. Their weapon is the staff and their planet is Mars.

Southwest: This is the direction of the winter sunset. This wind was personified by ancient Greeks as Lips ("From Libya"). He was often depicted holding the stern of a ship. His Roman equivalent is Afer Ventus ("African Wind") or Africus. This name is thought to be derived from the name of a North African tribe, the Afri. The Germanic name is Vuestsundroni. In Hinduism the Guardians of the Southwest are Nirṛti and Nirrita. They are the Lord and Lady of death, pain and corruption. Their weapon is the sword and their "planet" is the Moon.

West: This word comes from the PIE for "shine red". This is the direction of the equinox sunset. The wind that blows from the West, toward the East, was personified by the ancient Greeks as Zephyrus, the bringer of gentle spring and summer breezes. He is known as the fructifying wind, the messenger of spring. His Roman equivalent is Favonius, who holds dominion over plants and flowers. The Germanic name is Vuestroni. In Hinduism the Guardians of the West are Varuna and his consort Nalani. They are the Lord and Lady of water, the celestial ocean, the underworld, law and order. Their weapon is the noose and their planet is Saturn.

Northwest: This is the direction of the summer sunset. This wind was personified as Skeiron, he who sweeps away the clouds. He was depicted as a bearded man tilting a cauldron, representing the onset of winter. His Roman equivalent is Caurus. The Germanic name is Vuestnordroni. In Hinduism the Guardians of the Northwest are Vayu and his consort Bharati. They are the Lord and Lady of power and courage. Their weapon is the goad and their "planet" is the Moon.

North: This word comes from the PIE for "submerged" or "below". This is the direction of night. The wind that blows from the North, toward the South, was personified by the ancient Greeks as Boreas. He is the bringer of cold winter air. Boreas is depicted as being very strong, with a violent temper to match. He was frequently shown as a winged old man with shaggy hair and beard that is sometimes frosted and spiked, holding a conch shell and wearing a billowing cloak. Herodotus and Pliny described a northern land known as Hyperborea ("Beyond the North Wind"), where people lived in complete happiness and had extraordinarily long lifespans. The Roman equivalent of Boreas is Aquilon or Aquilo. An alternate, rarer name used for the northern wind was Septentrio, a word derived from septem triones ("seven oxen") referring to the seven prominent stars in the northern constellation Ursa Major. The Germanic name is Nordroni. In Hinduism the Guardians of the North are Kubera and his consort Kuberajāyā. They are the Lord and Lady of wealth and protectors of the Earth. Their weapon is the mace and their planet is Mercury.

Northeast: This is the direction of the summer sunrise. The wind that blows from the Northeast was personified as Kaikias by the ancient Greeks. He was shown as a bearded man with a shield full of hail-stones. His name is cognate to the Latin word caecus "blind" because he was seen as a "dark" wind. His Roman name was Caecius. The Germanic name is Ostnordroni.  In Hinduism the Guardians of the Northeast are Ishana (Shiva) and his consort Parvati (Shakti). They are the Lord and Lady of prosperity, knowledge, happiness and peace. Their weapon is the trident and their planet is Jupiter.