Euroclydon (or in Latin: Euroaquilo) is a cyclonic tempestuous northeast wind which blows in the

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the e ...

, mostly in autumn and winter. It is the modern Gregalia (

Gregale The Gregale ( ca, Gregal, it, Grecale, , mt, Grigal, , el, Γραίγος, ''Graigos'') is a Mediterranean wind that can occur during times when a low-pressure area moves through the area to the south of Malta and causes a strong, cool, northea ...

) or Levanter. From the Ancient Greek word ''eurokludōn'' �ὐροκλύδων from ''Euros'' (Eurus, meaning east wind) and either the Ancient Greek word ''akulōn'' (akylōn, meaning north wind), or ''kludon'' (meaning a surging wave from the verb ''kluzo'' meaning to billow) or the Latin word ''aquilō'' (aquilon). Euroclydon is not to be confused with the term

nor'easter A nor'easter (also northeaster; see below), or an East Coast low is a synoptic-scale extratropical cyclone in the western North Atlantic Ocean. The name derives from the direction of the winds that blow from the northeast. The original use o ...

, which is a separate storm system that forms in the northeastern portion of the United States.

Notable references

* In chapter 27 in the

Book of Acts The Acts of the Apostles ( grc-koi, Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων, ''Práxeis Apostólōn''; la, Actūs Apostolōrum) is the fifth book of the New Testament; it tells of the founding of the Christian Church and the spread of its message ...

27:14 it may specifically refer to the name of the

wind from the Adriatic Gulf, which wrecked the apostle Paul's ship on the coast of

Malta Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...

on his way to Rome. * It is referenced in the second chapter of ''

Moby-Dick ''Moby-Dick; or, The Whale'' is an 1851 novel by American writer Herman Melville. The book is the sailor Ishmael (Moby-Dick), Ishmael's narrative of the obsessive quest of Captain Ahab, Ahab, captain of the whaler, whaling ship ''Pequod (Moby- ...

''. *''Euroclydon'' is also the name of an anthem by

William Billings William Billings (October 7, 1746 – September 26, 1800) is regarded as the first American choral composer and leading member of the First New England School. Life William Billings was born in Boston, Massachusetts. At the age of 14, t ...

*Referenced in "The Roman Centurion's Song" by

Rudyard Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)''The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English novelist, short-story writer, poet, and journalist. He was born in British India, which inspired much of his work. ...

: "Here where our stiff-necked British oaks confront Euroclydon!" *Referenced in

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (February 27, 1807 – March 24, 1882) was an American poet and educator. His original works include "Paul Revere's Ride", ''The Song of Hiawatha'', and ''Evangeline''. He was the first American to completely transl ...

's poem "Midnight Mass for the Dying Year". *Referenced in

Dorothy L. Sayers Dorothy Leigh Sayers (; 13 June 1893 – 17 December 1957) was an English crime writer and poet. She was also a student of classical and modern languages. She is best known for her mysteries, a series of novels and short stories set between th ...

' novel ''

The Nine Tailors ''The Nine Tailors'' is a 1934 mystery novel by the British writer Dorothy L. Sayers, her ninth featuring Lord Peter Wimsey. The story is set in the Lincolnshire Fens, and revolves around a group of bell-ringers at the local parish church. The b ...

'' where after a rainstorm, the Rector use
the phrase from Acts 27:14

References

Sources

* Acts 27:14 http://bible.cc/acts/27-14.htm
Wiktionary article on Euroclydon

Moby Dick Chapter 2
Winds Acts of the Apostles {{climate-stub