FAVONIUS was a Roman nomen, meaning "favorable". It applied to a number of Roman mythological and historical figures. The gentlest of the winds, FAVONIUS is known as the fructifying wind, the messenger of spring. He held dominion over plants and flowers. The Roman poet Horace writes: quid fles, Asterie, quem tibi candidi primo restituent vere Favonii? Why do you weep, Asterie, for the man whom the bright west winds will restore to you at the beginning of spring?