Saturday, December 15, 2007

Dancing Satyrs







Dancing Satyrs

Oil on wood panel, 11 inches X 14 inches, 2007




Satyrs were forest creatures descended from an ancient race of people, “the hairy ones,” who lived in southern Europe. They are usually depicted with human bodies; pug nosed faces, horns, and the lower body of a goat with a tail. Playful, carefree and mischievous they are one of the more delightful mythological characters. Satyrs were very comfortable around humans. To have one visit a home and partake of a meal was a great honor which brought a family good luck.

The most notable Satyr was Pan an ancient Greek God, musician and protector of small children and animals. Shakespeare’s “Puck” in “Midsummer’s Night Dream” was a Satyr.

It is my belief that stories about Satyrs might be remnants of ancient histories of a time when Neanderthals and Modern Humans cohabited territories in what are now southern France and northern Spain.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Patrick, I love your 'Dancing Satyrs' and am looking forward to seeing more of your mythological creatures. The stories are a nice read, keep them coming. :)Erika