Words for "East" and "West" in Spanish?

Question

The words I learned when beginning Spanish for `east` and `west` are `este` and `oeste`, which are basically cognates of their English equivalents.But I've been told that there are other words to denote `east` and `west`: `oriente` and `poniente`. How did these words get those connotations? Are there times when you would use these words and not `este` and `oeste`?Also the main words for `north` and `south` are `norte` and `sur`, which again are basically cognates. Are there non-cognate words in Spanish that connote `north` and `south`?

Answer 1

Este (Oriente o Levante) es la dirección por donde sale el Sol. Oeste (Occidente oPoniente) es la dirección por donde se pone el Sol. Norte (Septentrional o Boreal) es la dirección hacia la izquierda respecto al este. Sur (Meridional o austral) es la dirección opuesta al Norte.