Storm-blast — πρηστήρ

Meaning

Zeus’s hymn lists πρηστῆρες with squalls, rain and thunderbolts; the Bakchos hymn describes the rushing of a πρηστήρ at Kadmos’s house (XIX.5; XLVII.5). The word combines violent storm-movement with the fiery context of these passages. No single modern meteorological category should be imposed on every instance.