SUPER SATYRS
Do satyrs excite you? Have you seen them in movies
and wondered about them? Well this page will leave
you wondering no more! Enjoy wonderful stories and
background information on these super satyrs.
ORIGIN
The origin of satyr as found on dictionary.com is the following...
Satyr
Woodland deity, companion of Bacchus, late 14c., from L. satyrus,
from Gk. satyros, of unknown origin. In pre-Roman Gk. art, a manlike being with the tail and ears of a horse, the modern conception of
being part man, part goat, is from Roman sculptors, who seem to
have assimilated them to the fauns of native mythology. In some
Eng. bibles used curiously to translate Heb. se'irim, a type of hairy
monster superstitiously believed to inhabit desert
The mythological creatures Satyrs are typically seen with the sex
drive in both Greek and Roman mythology. Supposedly, satyrs were
some male friends that accompanied Dionysus and Pan, while they
were roaming the woods and mountains.
APPEARANCE
In appearance, all Satyrs have goat like features, some of which may
even shine through to their mortal seeming. Satyrs possess horns
that vary in size and shape, and often grow longer as the Satyr ages.
Most Satyrs are quite hairy; both sexes tend to wear their hair long,
and rarely shave, not that it would do much good anyhow. Satyrs
have goat legs, complete with cloven hooves, and many possess
animal tails of various lengths.
MYTHOLOGICAL STORIES
MARSYAS was a Phrygian Satyr who first composed tunes for the
flute. He obtained his instrument from Athena. Later, Marsyas dared
challenge the god Apollon to a contest. The Satyr inevitably lost,
when, in the second round, the god demanded they play their
instruments upside-down. As punishment for letting his hubris get
the best of him, Apollon had Marsyas tied to a tree and flayed,
stripped off the skin, him alive. The gods in their pity then
transformed him into a mountain stream.
Pan, meaning "all" in the Greek language, was the most famous of
the Satyrs and a son of Greek god Hermes, the messenger of the gods
and the Nymph Penelope (or Dryope). Pan was an ugly satyr with a
long beard, sharp ears, goat legs and horns. Almost none thought
highly of Pan, not even his mother, who runs away horrified and full
of disgust when she saw Pan for the very first time. However, Pan
was actually a kind-hearted god. Many times, he is depicted holding
a pipe, delighting the gods with his divine melodies. His sacred tree
was the pine tree. Odd information about Pan. The modern word
"panic" was named in Pan's honor, since a sudden appearance of his
would easily cause overwhelming fear and terror.
IMPORTANCE
It is from satyrs that the word satire originates and its use in
literature and theatre. The Greeks wrote satyr plays, which were
usually light-hearted follow-ups to tragedies, usually featured in
Athenian festivals honoring Dionysus.
MODERN REFERENCES
Satyrs make numerous appearances in films today, including Phil in
Disney's Hercules, baby satyrs in Fantasia, Mr.Tumnus in C.S. Lewis'
Chronicles of Narnia, and in a ton of video games.
SOURCES
"Mythical Creatures: Satyrs - by M. Lee - Helium." Helium - Where
Knowledge Rules. Web. 06 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.helium.com/items/1742206-satyrs>.
"MARSYAS: Satyr of Lydia | Greek Mythology, W/ Pictures." THEOI
GREEK MYTHOLOGY, Exploring Mythology & the Greek Gods in
Classical Literature & Art. Web. 06 Jan. 2012
"Vampires, Werewolfs, Spirits & More @
Vampirelore1275.BigOrb.com." BigOrb.com :: What's Your School of
Thought? Web. 06 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.bigorb.com/orb/article/view.php?id=616>.