The world of Greek Mythology was inhabited by a countless number of creatures, with the Satyr being just one of a number of spirits given the task of looking after the mountains and the woods. Today though the Satyr is now confused with the Pans or the Fauns, other deities from Greek and Roman mythology, although they had separate responsibilities. The role of the Satyr though as guardians of woods though often meant that they were distrusted by man, fearing their actions if anyone wandered unwittingly into their woods.  

In the earliest depictions from Greek mythology the Satyrs were recognisable as men, although with additional features. They would have the tail of a horse and assine ears, with an upturned pug nose. The male anatomy though was defined by receding hairlines and pronounced erections.

The playing of flutes, and their association with Pan, saw a gradual changing of the Satyr, and they started to become more like the Pans at least in description. More animal features started to be added. Gradually Satyrs started to be depicted with the horns, hooves and tail of a goat, the legs also evolved to be covered in goats’ hair. 

The Satyrs are most closely associated with Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and also fertility, and were his companions. As a result the Satyrs were often portrayed as being work shy, as described by Hesiod, and were normally associated with drinking and dancing rather than undertaking any sort of work. As fertility symbols as well, they Satyrs were also often said to chase after, and catch, the mountain nymphs.

Amongst ancient sources there is no agreement upon where the Satyr came from, although many sources do claim that the Satyr were the offspring of Hermes and Iphthima. The names of the Satyrs are not widely known and despite numbering large numbers, it was the likes of Ampelos, a lover of Dionysus, and Tityroi, a favoured flute player. The most famous though of the Satyrs was Seilenos, or Silenus, considered to be the chief of the Satyr. Seilenos was an immortal, who would become a demi-god for drunkenness, alongside Dionysus. This favoured position came about because of the role that he played in raising the god on Mouont Nysa.

Aside from the tales associated with Dionysus, the Satyr had few tales written about them directly. They do though appear in the tale written by Eratosthenes about the Gods of Olympus’ war with the giants. In most tales the victory of the gods was only assured when Heracles appeared to assist, but Eratosthenes tells of the role of the Satyr in the win. Dionysus answered the call of Zeus to take battle to the giants and with his retinue arrived on the battlefield upon the backs of asses. The braying of the asses though was a noise so alien to the giants that they fled rather than fight.

The Satyr were of course central to the Satyr dramas of antiquity, the likes of Cyclops by Euripides. Most dramas though have been lost and forgotten by the passage of time, including the complete works of Aeschylus. This connection with drama has often led to the mistaken belief that the word satire has its roots in Satyr.

The Satyrs were one of many groups of mythical creatures that inhabited the mythological world of ancient Greece, and were perceived as being generally easy going creatures that liked to do everything to excess.