Capitoline Faun

Capitoline Faun - Statue of a satyr in the Capitoline Museum

A satyr is a mythological creature closely associated with Dionysus, drinking, and lustfulness.  Sometimes in art they are given horse or goat legs and tales with upper bodies of men.  The common representation is that of a man with goat hooves and animal ears.  They typically inhabited the wilds and woodlands, playing pipes and causing mischief.  They loved to chase maenads, nymphs, bacchants (worshipers of Dionysus), and women in general.  They also have a special love for wine and are often depicted on wine cups.  The most well known satyr is the Greek God Pan, lord of the wild, shepherds, rustic music, and companion to the nymphs.  He is also connected to fertility and the season of Spring.  Pan is also the only Greek god in all of ancient mythology who dies.  According to Plutarch, the sailor Thamus was traveling to Italy when he heard a divine voice telling him that Pan was dead.  Another story concerning Pan is that of Pitys.  Pitys was a beautiful forest nymph who had attracted the attention of both Pan and Boreas, the raging North Wind.  Forced to choose between the two, Pitys chose Pan because he was being more quiet than Boreas.  Angry at not being chosen, Boreas tossed Pitys off a cliff and killed her.  When Pan found her body, he was sad and turned her into his patron tree, the pine tree.  Legend says that this is why pine trees have resin that drips down every Fall: it is the tears of the nymph that fall when the North Wind blows.

--Michael Green