Aeolus was, in Greek mythology, the keeper of the winds and King of the Aeolian Islands off Sicily. The son of Hippotes, he had six sons and six daughters, including the kings Agathyrnus, Astyochus, Androcles, Iocastus, Pheraemon, and Xuthus. After their misadventure in Polyphemus' cave, Odysseus and his crew visited Aeolus and his family in their palace, and Aeolus gave Odysseus a west wind to carry him home to Ithaca. Aeolus also gave Odysseus and his crew a bag containing all winds but the west; as Odysseus neared Ithaca, the arrogant king fell asleep, sure of his ability to return home. His curious men then opened the bag, blowing them back to Aeolus' island. Aeolus refused to help them any further, believing that the gods were against them.