The Satyrs were creatures who looked like men, but had the hooves as feet as well as the tails of goats. They could be best described as goat-men. Many of the Satyrs accompanied Dionysus (Bacchus) pouring his wine and playing music on their flutes for him. Silenus, who was the oldest of the Satyrs is said to have tutored Dionysus.

      One of the most famous Satyrs was Pan, a son of Hermes and a nymph. He was the god of green fields and the guardian of the shepherds. He is also associated with the worship of Dionysus.

      Pan was a joyful Satyr who loved dancing and playing on the shepherds pipe, an instrument he invented, as told in the love story of Pan and Syrinx. One day Pan saw Syrinx returning to her home. Immediately he started after her and she ran until she came to a river. Syrinx turned into a reed that lined the bank of the river so Pan could not recognize her. Pan grabbed a hand full of reeds in hopes that he could capture Syrinx, but he was unable to locate her. Pan sat down beside the river and started tying the reeds together that he had gathered and soon he came up with a contraption that is known today as the "Pipes of Pan." Once Pan with his pipes competed with Apollo, the god of music and his lyre, in a musical contest. The judge, King Tmolus, awarded the prize to Apollo, but Midas let it be known that he though Pan was the better musician. Apollo turned Midas' ears into donkey's ears.

ACTIVITIES:
Satyr activity

KEY TEST WORDS:
Pan was a satyr, half-man half-goat creature.

Creatures and Monsters

Fables

Footnotes:
Pan, also called Hylaeos, or forest god, was represented as a bearded man with a large hooked nose, and with the ear and horns and legs of a goat. His body was covered with hair and he held a seven reed shepherd's pipe. The Romans called Pan, Inuus, because he taught them to breed cattle, and Lupercus, because he taught them to employ dogs for the purpose of protecting the herds against wolves.

SOURCES:
Jane Smith
Edith Hamilton's Mythology
Bulfinch's Mythology
"Manual of Mythology" by Alexander S. Murray.