Satyrs, the minor forest gods of Greek mythology, had the face, torso, and arms of a man, the ears and tail of a goat, and two goatlike legs. Fond of the pleasures associated with Dionysus (or Bacchus), the god of wine, they were full of playful and sometimes violent energies, and spent much of their time chasing the beautiful nature spirits known as nymphs. Satyrs show up over and over in ancient art. The Greek god Pan, with his reed pipes and mischievous delight in life, had the appearance and character of a satyr but greater powers. Notice how satyr is pronounced; it's quite different from satire.
Recent Examples on the WebThe Disney+ series will feature Walker Scobell in the title role of 12-year-old Percy, a teen demigod; Aryan Simhadri as Grover, a satyr who is half-boy and half-goat; and Jeffries as Annabeth, a daughter of the goddess Athena. Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 13 May 2022 Grover is a cautious satyr who embarks on daring mythological journeys alongside Percy and Annabeth. Christi Carrasstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2022 He is also remembered, among Brits with a taste for evergreen gossip, as perhaps the most erotically adventurous man of his generation, the satyr of the socialists. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 15 Nov. 2021 Depending on the mythology, a satyr can be a man with a horse’s ears and tail, or a being with a boat’s ears, horns, tail and legs. Kris Holt, Forbes, 12 Oct. 2021 Like the decking of the satyr’s ship, the wool then rotted away, leaving a cast of its fibres on the coin.The Economist, 4 July 2019 Once the plot requires Percy to go on a picaresque quest to retrieve the titular lightning bolt, with Annabeth and a satyr named Grover (Jorrel Javier) in tow, the storytelling and songwriting become hectic and monotonous. Jesse Green, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2019 The painting, completed in the 1960s, is of a long-necked satyr-like woman, with spiral breasts and an aristocratic arm draped elegantly on a ledge, her fingers long and slim, like those of Carrington herself.The Economist, 18 Dec. 2019 Made of amethyst, bone, faience, glass, turquoise, and umber, and including phallic amulets, scarabs, a woman, a dancing satyr, and a head of Dionysus, they are thought to be the treasure box of a sorceress. Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper's magazine, 28 Oct. 2019 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin satyrus, from Greek satyros