Aeolus ₁ reigned over the Aeolians of Thessaly.
Aeolus ₂, king of the Aeolian Islands (north of Sicily), is the ruler of the winds.
Aeolus ₃ came in possession of the islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea which are called Aeolian after him, but because of this he resembles Aeolus ₂. Moreover, his mother is sometimes said to be the child of Aeolus ₁ or Aeolus ₂.
Aeolus ₄ is just a companion of Aeneas in Italy.
Aeolus ₅ is a defender of Thebes against the SEVEN.

Aeolus ₂

Aeolus ₂ was king of the Aeolian Islands, and was appointed by Zeus to be the Ruler of the Winds, both to calm them and to arouse them. Having entertained Odysseus, who had come to him during his wanderings, Aeolus ₂ gave him a bag in which he had bound fast the winds. But when Odysseus' fleet, having left the Aeolian Islands was near Ithaca, his comrades, thinking that Odysseus carried gold in the bag, loosed it and let the winds go free. Thus they were driven back again to Aeolus ₂'s floating kingdom, but this time the Ruler of the Winds refused to granted them a fair breeze, driving them from the island.

Home and Family

Aeolus ₂ lived in the floating Island of Aeolia, around which there was a wall of bronze. Some say he had twelve children (six sons and six daughters) and that he gave his daughters to his sons as wives.

Happy Life

Hospitality

When Odysseus left the island of the Cyclops Polyphemus ₂, whom he blinded, he came to the floating island where Aeolus ₂ lived in his palace, and was received by him, staying for a whole month. During this time, Odysseus gave him a full account of the Trojan War, which particularly interested the king; for those who live apart from the world, usually regard its troubles with great wonder.

Assistance

After one month then, Odysseus asked him for permission to continue his journey (for no one comes and goes in a palace as he pleases), also asking if he could count on his help to safely return to Ithaca. Aeolus ₂ then presented him with the leather bag in which he had imprisoned the forces of all the winds, and this bag the Ruler of the Winds tightly secured with a silver wire to Odysseus' ship. In addition, and just for Odysseus' sake, he called up a breeze to blow in the proper direction.

Sleep & Greed

This is how Odysseus and his crew left the Aeolian Island. When they had sailed for nine days, having during the tenth day their homeland in sight and being also able to see the smoke rising from the town, Odysseus fell asleep, and his comrades, suspecting he carried gold and silver as gifts from the king and booty from the war, loosed the leather bag and all the winds came forth.

Return to the start

Borne by storms and an evil blast of wind, the ships sailed back again, over the waves they had just crossed, to the Aeolian Island. There they landed, and after taking a meal in the beach, Odysseus went back with a herald and another companion to the palace of Aeolus ₂, whom he found busy in the midst of his daily activity, that is, feasting with his wife and children.

Humiliating second meeting

When the company saw Odysseus back, they could not believe their eyes, for they had given him all what he needed to reach Ithaca, or whatever port he might choose. Odysseus explained, not without embarrassment, that the reason of his unexpected presence was a rascally crew and a fatal sleep, and added:

"But my friends, won't you put things right for me? You easily could." (Odysseus to Aeolus ₂. Homer, Odyssey 10.67).

But all kept silent, except King Aeolus ₂; and since even sleep may at times be outrageous, he said:

"Begone from this island instantly. The world holds no greater sinner than you, and I am not one to entertain and equip a man detested by the gods... Be off" (Aeolus ₂ to Odysseus. Homer, Odyssey 10.70).

With these words, Odysseus was dismissed, and all his protests went for nothing. And after leaving Aeolus ₂, Odysseus came to the land of the Laestrygonians, where he lost all the ships except his own.

Hippotes ₁ was son of Mimas ₄, son of Aeolus ₁, son of Hellen ₁, son of Deucalion ₁, the man who survived the Flood.

a) unknown

a) Six daughters and six sons

These were married to each other.

b) Cyane ₂

b) Lapithus ₂, Astyochus, Xuthus ₂, Androcles, Pheraemon, Jocastus, Agathyrnus.

Cyane ₂ was daughter of Liparus, who was chased from Italy and came to the Aeolian Islands. Liparus, they say, died in great esteem after having returned to Italy with the help of Aeolus ₂. Liparus' father was Auson, an Italian king.

Lapithus ₂ is father of Lesbos, who became king of the island of Lesbos and called it after himself. Lesbos married Methymna, daughter of Macar ₁ who reigned in Lesbos. Some say that Macar ₁ is the son of Helius and Rhode ₂, but others have called him son of Crinacus, son of Zeus. Rhode ₂ is daughter of Poseidon.

Astyochus was king of Lipara, which is the largest of the Liparaean Islands off the norther coast of Sicily.

Xuthus ₂ became king over the land in the neighbourhood of Leontini, eastern Sicily.

Androcles and Pheraemon became kings in Sicily.

Jocastus was king of the coast of Italy as far as Rhegium, which is in the "toe" of Italy.

Agathyrnus founded the city Agathyrnum, which is in the northern coast of Sicily.

c) unknown

c) Arne

Arne was blamed by her father for being pregnant, and handed over to Metapontus. She could be the daughter of Aeolus ₁, or also of Desmontes, who is said to have blinded her daughter for giving birth to two sons, and to have given orders to throw the children to the wild beasts. Arne is mother of Boeotus, after whom the Boeotians are called. He is also said to have been adopted by Aeolus ₂, and to have taken, in succession to him, the kingdom of Aeolis. Arne gave also birth to Aeolus ₃, who came in possession of the islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea which are called Aeolian after him.

d) unknown

d) Polymele ₃, Diores ₃.

Polymele ₃ had an incestuous relationship with her brother Diores ₃. She is also said to have consorted with Odysseus.

e) Amphithea ₄

e) Six daughters and six sons, the incestuous being only Macar ₂.