The Tower of the Winds, or, to give it its proper title, the Horologium of Andronikos Kyrrhestes, was built about 40 BC by the astronomer Andronikos of Kyrrhos. This octagonal marble building, which stands about twelve meters high, originally served the triple purpose of sundial, water-clock (clepsydra) and weather-vane. According to Vitruvius (Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, Roman architect of the 1st century AD), the tower was originally surmounted by a revolving bronze Triton holding a wand which pointed out the face of the building corresponding to the wind.

The Winds are Immortals who have chosen the air as their bodies. In the oldest myths there are only four Winds: Boreas (North), Euros (East), Notus (South) and Zephyros (West). Later, the Classical Greeks embellished the stories and added four new entities to represent The Winds: Boreas, Kaikias, Apeliotes, Euros, Notos, Lips, Zephyros, and Skiron.

The Tower is decorated on each of its sides with a bas relief of an anthropomorphic wind deity: each sculpted figure in the frieze represents one of the eight winds facing the eight compass points. These winds are represented as winged, floating figures “flying” through the air.

North - Boreas in a heavy cloak, he is blowing through a twisted shell.

Northwest - Skiron is carrying a bronze pot full of hot ashes and charcoal.

West - Zephyros showers a lapful of flowers into the air.

Northeast - Kaikias carries and empties a shield full of hailstones.

Southeast - Euros (Sirocco) is depicted as an old man threatening a hurricane.

East - Apeliotes is carrying fruit and grain.

South - Notos is emptying an urn thus producing a shower of rain.

Southwest - Lips pushes at the stern of a ship, promising a good sailing wind.