In Greek mythology, a satyr is the goat-legged or animal-featured nature spirit who accompanies Dionysus. Satyrs belong to the god’s wild retinue and are associated with wine, music, dancing, forests, mountains, and uninhibited behavior.
The quiz’s goat-legged image is especially familiar from later Greek and Roman art. Earlier Greek representations often gave satyrs horse-like ears, tails, and sometimes legs; goat horns and legs became increasingly common through their visual association with Pan and other rustic beings. The Roman faun is a related but originally distinct nature spirit.
Satyrs also appear in ancient drama. Euripides’ Cyclops is the only complete surviving Greek satyr play, a bawdy comic genre that parodied serious tragedy. A famous individual satyr is Marsyas, who challenged Apollo to a music contest and was punished after losing. Silenus, often portrayed as an older, wiser satyr-like figure, was connected with Dionysus as his tutor.