In ancient Roman mythology, the god or personification of the south wind, often depicted as harsh and drying.
From Latin 'auster' meaning the south wind. The Romans associated the southern wind with hot, dry, and sometimes destructive weather. The term comes from the same root as 'austerity,' suggesting something stern or harsh.
The Romans were so attuned to wind patterns that they deified them! Auster reminds us that ancient people saw personality in weather—the south wind was 'harsh' and 'stern' to them, eventually giving English the word 'austere' for anything grim or severe.
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