Satyri
（
Σάτυροι) and Doric
Tityri (
Τίτυροι). The name of a class of
beings in Greek mythology, who are inseparably connected with the worship of Dionysus, and
represent the luxuriant vital powers of Nature. They are commonly said to be the sons of
Hermes and Iphthima, or of the Naïades. The Satyrs are represented with bristly hair,
the nose blunt and somewhat turned upward, the ears pointed at the top, like those of animals,
with two small horns growing out of the top of the forehead, with a tail like that of a horse
or goat, and with teat-like protuberances (
φήρεα) on the
neck. In works of art they are represented at different stages of life; the older ones were
commonly called
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Satyr's Head. (Glyptothek, Munich.)
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Sileni, and the younger ones are termed Satyrisci. The Satyrs are always
described as fond of wine (whence they often appear either with a cup or a
thyrsus in their hand), and of every kind of sensual pleasure, whence they are seen
sleeping, playing musical instruments, or engaged in voluptuous dances with nymphs.
Vase-painters represent them as resembling also the Bacchantes and (rarely) Iris. They are
dressed with the skins of animals, and wear wreaths of vine, ivy, or fir. Like all the gods
dwelling in forests and fields, they were greatly dreaded by mortals. Later writers,
especially the Roman poets, confound the Satyrs with the Italian Fauni, and accordingly
represent them with larger horns and goats' feet, although originally they were quite distinct
kinds of beings. They are also incorrectly identified with the Panes. See
Faunus;
Pan;
Silenus.
