Satyr
creatureSatyrs were rustic nature spirits of the woodlands, companions of Dionysus, depicted with horse-like ears and tails, known for their love of wine, music, and revelry.
The Myth
Satyrs inhabited the wild forests and mountains, embodying the untamed forces of nature. They danced, drank wine, and played the aulos and syrinx in the retinue of Dionysus. The eldest and wisest satyr was Silenus, foster-father and tutor of Dionysus. In Athenian drama, every tragic trilogy was followed by a satyr play — a bawdy comedy featuring a chorus of satyrs. The satyr Marsyas challenged Apollo to a musical contest and lost, paying with his skin. In later art, satyrs merged with the Roman fauns and became the model for medieval depictions of devils with horns and hooves.
Parents
Various woodland deities
Children
None recorded
Symbols
Fun Fact
The literary genre of "satire" likely takes its name from the satyr plays of Athens — ribald performances that mocked gods and mortals alike.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth: