Greek mythology is multifaceted and interesting. Going deep into the pages of legends and legends, you can find a lot of interesting things. Reading about the high Olympus, the power of the gods, about the beautiful temples erected in their honor, as well as rich holidays, a person is so carried away that he does not notice how quickly time flies. Dionysus deserves special attention, or rather the retinue that accompanies him and is a collection of different creatures. Satyrs, nymphs, Silenus - this is the majority of creatures that have become heroes of bas-reliefs that adorn the temple of the god of winemaking.
What are satires?
Satyr is, in Greek mythology, the merry, dissolute god of the forest and fertility. The appearance of the satyr allows us to describe him as a goat-footed man, with the outlines characteristic of a very strong athlete. In addition to goat legs and hooves, this deity has a tail and horns. The lower part of the satyr’s body is overgrown with wool.
Traditionally, satyrs were considered the assistants of Dionysus, it was they who became the creatures who invented the wine, which gave them the right to constantly participate in feasts arranged by the god of winemaking and get drunk on them. Satyrs are too loving, in legends they brazenly pursue beautiful nymphs to indulge in love with them. Traditionally symbolize male power. They have a weakness for playing the flute, and they also like to dance, sing well, are lazy by nature, amorous and excessively lecherous. They have power that exceeds the capabilities of an ordinary person, which allows us to describe them as good warriors.
Satyrs in art
The ancient Greeks liked to display in the works of art plots of various legends, satire became the central figures of some paintings or statues. The mythology of antiquity paid them special attention, which inspired sculptors and artists to use the image of satire in their creations.
Satyrs were portrayed as young youths and scary, ugly monsters. For artists, the simple and cheerful nature of these creations served as a source of inspiration for the creation of many paintings. Among the sculptors, the work of Praxiteles stands apart. It was he who sculpted the perfect satyr statue, the type of which subsequently began to be found in almost all works of art. The satyr, made by Praxiteles, was a statue of bronze, so beloved by the Greeks that even in Athens itself it was called famous.
Strong. Mythology
Among the creatures in the retinue of Dionysus, one demigod should be singled out separately. Silenus is a teacher of the fertility god, a satyr, almost always in a state of intoxication. Sometimes, intoxication has a noble connotation of an inspired seer who is about to tell people the secret of life, to open his eyes to the secrets of the origin of the universe. In his songs, Silenus praised the earth illuminated by the first rays of the heavenly luminary, the clouds reaching heavenly heights only to fall upon their native land with torrential rain, forests with their pristine freshness and the tops of trees dancing in time with the wind, a few animals walking at that time forests and mountains, a beautiful and melodic song of the wild wind.
Strong in the visual arts
Silenus is not only a mythological character, but also an important part of the applied art of Ancient Greece. On various bas-reliefs belonging to the Antiquity, as well as on engraved stones, he was deliberately given enormous, coarse shapes to once again emphasize the elegance and beauty of Dionysus (sometimes referred to as Bacchus), as well as highlight the lightness and elegance of the forms of the other companions of the wine-making god : nymphs and satyrs. The state of constant intoxication characteristic of a demigod requires constant support of the retinue. In the paintings depicting Bacchic festivities, one can notice a heavy figure sitting astride a gray donkey, making every effort not to fall under the weight of a rider - this is Silenus. This once again emphasizes the image of the demigod. Beside him, satyrs invariably march, serving as a support and protecting against falling, surrounded by enough drunk Silenus on both sides.
Strong in sculpture
Many ancient sculptors believed that stone satyrs would become a worthy decoration for the garden. Mythology has many legends associated with them, but the demigod Silenus fell in love with the Greeks a little more. If in painting they liked to portray him as deliberately ugly, then another type of Silenus appears in sculpture. As a teacher of the god of winemaking, he should at least sometimes appear before the people in a decent form. The huge belly and fat folds disappear, intoxication dissipates, and its forms as a whole acquire harmony and nobility. An excellent bronze statue found in Pompeii is an example. It depicts Silenus in excellent guise, entertaining the still young Dionysus with a game on copper plates.