Satyros

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A mythological creature from Greek folklore known to be a male follower of Dionysus, often depicted as a man with goat-like features
2. A being celebrated in ancient mythology as a companion to the god of wine, often characterized by its playful and lecherous nature
3. A legendary figure in classical stories representing wildness and indulgence, commonly portrayed with human and animal traits

Etymology: In early Greek vase painting, satyrs often had horse ears, horse tails, and sometimes horse legs, and the goat features familiar today became standard later, especially once Roman writers and artists merged them with the Italian "faunus" and the Greek Pan. The name itself has no secure Greek etymology, and scholars generally suspect it comes from a pre-Greek language of the Aegean region. The creatures gave their name to the satyr play, a bawdy comic afterpiece performed at Athenian festivals after three tragedies, with a chorus dressed as satyrs. The word reached English in the Middle Ages through Latin "satyrus." It is often confused with "satire," but the two are unrelated: "satire" comes from Latin "satura," meaning a medley or mixture. The spelling "satyre" was briefly used for satire in English, however, which shows how readily the two words were conflated.

Synonyms: satyr, faun, mythical creature