Abstract
Very short spurious glossary listing the local names of winds across different cities and regions of the Greek world and their geographical origin: a compilatory work with no philosophical content of its own.
Traduzione di W. S. Hett · Delphi Classics, 2013 · pubblico dominio
THE heading of this short summary of the winds in the manuscript shows it to be an extract from a work called De Signis, not by Aristotle but by some member of the Peripatetic School. Bekker’s text has been used for the translation, but it has been extensively corrected by that of Apelt, whose edition of 1888 shows a marked advance on the previous German text.
From Aristotle’s Treatise of Meteorological Signs
BORRAS. At Mallus this is called Pagreus, for it blows from high cliffs and the parallel ranges of two mountains, which are called Pagrica. At Caunus it is called Meses; and at Rhodes Caunias, as it blows from Caunus and ruffles the harbour of the Caunians. In Olbia by Magydum in Pamphylia it is called Idyreus; for it blows from the island called Idyris. Some there, like the Lyrnantieis at Phaselis, call it Borras. Caecias. In Lesbos this is called Thebanas, for it blows from the plains of Thebes above the Eleatic Gulf in Mysia, and ruffles the harbour of the Mityleneans, and especially the Malian, but among some the wind is called Caunias which others name Borras. Apeliotes. In Tripolis in Phoenicia this is called Potameus, and it blows from a plain like a huge threshing-floor, which is surrounded by the mountains Libanus and Bapyrus; hence it is called Potameus. It ruffles the harbour of Poseidonium. In the Issic Gulf and about Rhosus it is called Syriander; it blows from the Syrian gates, which the Taurus and Rhosian mountains divide. In the gulf of Tripolis it is called Marseus from a village Marsus. At Proconnesus, Teos, Crete, Euboea and Cyrene it is called Hellespontias. It specially ruffles the harbour of Capheres in Euboea and the harbour of Cyrene, which is called Apollonia; it blows from the Hellespont. In Sinope it is called Berecyntias, blowing from parts of Phrygia. In Sicily it is called Cataporthmias, blowing from the strait. Some also call it Caecias, adding the title Thebanas.
Eurus. At Aegae in Syria it is called Scopelus from the Rhosian crag (skopelos), and at Cyrene Carbas from the Carbanes who dwell in Phoenicia; wherefore some call it Phoenicias. Some also believe it to be the Apeliotes.
Orthonotus. Some add the title Eurus and some Amneus. Notus has the same name everywhere. Its name is due to its bringing disease (nosos), apart from its being showery (notios), so there are two reasons for its name. Similarly with Leuconotus; its name is due to an accidental property; for it bleaches… Lips. This name is derived from Libya whence it blows. Zephyrus. This derives its name from the fact that it blows from the west… Iapyx. At Tarentum this is called Scylletinus from a place Scylletium. At Dorylaeum it is called Phrygias, and by some Pharangites, for it blows from a certain gorge at Pangaeus. Among many it is known as Argestes. Thracias, called Strymonias in Thrace, because it blows from the river Strymon, and in the Megarid Scirron from the Scirronides rocks, and in Italy and in Sicily Circias because it blows from Circaeum. In Euboea and Lesbos it is called Olympias, and its name comes from Pierian Olympus; it gives trouble to the Pyrrhaei.
I have written down for you also the situation of the winds, where they are situate and whence they blow, drawing in a chart the earth’s circumference, in order that these things may be set before your eyes.