satyr
Sign in to saveIn Greek mythology, a satyr (, ), also known as a silenus or silenos ( ), and sileni (plural), is a male nature spirit with ears and a tail resembling those of a horse, as well as a permanent, exaggerated erection. Early artistic representations sometimes include horse-like legs, but, by the sixth century BC, they were more often represented with human legs. Comically hideous, they have mane-like hair, bestial faces, and snub noses and they always are shown naked. Satyrs were characterized by their ribaldry and were known as lovers of wine, music, dancing, and women. They were companions of th
AI overview
In Greek mythology, a satyr is a male nature spirit depicted with horse-like features—such as ears and a tail—along with exaggerated human characteristics, typically shown naked with a mane-like hair and bestial face. Satyrs are remembered as lusty, comedic figures who loved wine, music, dancing, and were known for their ribald behavior, often appearing as companions in mythological scenes.
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Key facts
- Mythical creature.name
- Satyr
- Mythical creature.image
- Satyros Cdm Paris DeRidder509.jpg
- Mythical creature.caption
- Attic red-figure plate from Vulci, Etruria, dated , showing an ithyphallic satyr holding an aulos, a kind of ancient Greek woodwind instrument.
- Mythical creature.Grouping
- Legendary creature
- Mythical creature.Sub_Grouping
- Mythological hybridNature spirit
- Mythical creature.AKA
- FaunSilenosselenussileni (plural)
- Mythical creature.Country
- Greece
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
23 sectionsContents
- Terminology
- Origin hypotheses
- Indo-European
- Near Eastern
- In archaic and classical Greece
- Physical appearance
- Behavior
- Mythology
- List of Satyrs <!-- this part of the article doesn't seem to be well-suited to even be present here, considering nearly all of the names listed are from a single post-classical text, which is known for having inaccuracies to its own source material and characters that seem to be fabricated for purely narrative purposes. This could be replaced by a section specifically on the satyrs of the Dionysiaca, and moved much lower on the page. It would be far less out-of-place and misleading. -->
- Later antiquity
- Hellenistic Era
- Ancient Rome
- After antiquity
- Middle Ages
- Renaissance
- Early modern period
- Nineteenth century
- Twentieth and twenty-first centuries
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Bibliography
- External links
In Greek mythology, a satyr (, ), also known as a silenus or silenos ( ), and sileni (plural), is a male nature spirit with ears and a tail resembling those of a horse, as well as a permanent, exaggerated erection. Early artistic representations sometimes include horse-like legs, but, by the sixth century BC, they were more often represented with human legs. Comically hideous, they have mane-like hair, bestial faces, and snub noses and they always are shown naked. Satyrs were characterized by their ribaldry and were known as lovers of wine, music, dancing, and women. They were companions of the god Dionysus and were believed to inhabit remote locales, such as woodlands, mountains, and pastures. They often attempted to seduce or rape nymphs and mortal women alike, usually with little success. They are sometimes shown masturbating or engaging in bestiality.
In classical Athens, satyrs made up the chorus in a genre of play known as a "satyr play", which was a parody of tragedy and known for its bawdy and obscene humor. The only complete surviving play of this genre is Cyclops by Euripides, although a significant portion of Sophocles's Ichneutae has also survived. In mythology, the satyr Marsyas is said to have challenged the god Apollo to a musical contest and been flayed alive for his hubris. Although superficially ridiculous, satyrs were also thought to possess useful knowledge, if they could be coaxed into revealing it. The satyr Silenus was the tutor of the young Dionysus, and a story from Ionia told of a silenos who gave sound advice when captured.