Silenus

open cluster

In Greek mythology, Silenus (; or ) was a companion and tutor to the wine god Dionysus. He is typically older than the satyrs of the Dionysian retinue (thiasos), and sometimes considerably older, in which case he may be referred to as a Papposilenus. Silen and its plural sileni refer to the mythological figure as a type that is sometimes thought to be differentiated from a satyr by having the attributes of a horse rather than a goat, though usage of the two words is not consistent enough to permit a sharp distinction.

Roman cameo glass vase

ancient Greek satyr play by Euripides

centaur in Greek mythology

mythical figure common in western European legend

painting by Giovanni Bellini and Titian

species of plant

street in Rome, Italy

Roman era ornamental garden vase

painting by Antonio da Correggio

Roman silver tableware hoard

painting by Lorenzo Lotto

painting by Jusepe de Ribera

painting by Piero di Cosimo

pastoral poem by the ancient Roman poet Virgil

ancient Roman stone sarcophagus