Resting Satyr

The satyr rests his right elbow on a tree trunk, in a relaxed pose, supported only on his left leg.

In ancient Greek mythology, satyrs are male companions to Dionysus, the god of grape harvest, ritual madness, theatre, and fertility.

As followers of Dionysus, satyrs are known for their love of wine, women, and playing music on their pipes or flutes.

[citation needed] The presence of the panther pelt on the Satyr signifies their connection to their beastly animal nature.

Satyrs were also often depicted on pottery as nude with an erect phallus to imply their savage and brutish sexual nature.

[2] This celebrity explains the large number of examples of this type, one of the most popular in the Mediterranean: just under 115 have been found, including 15 from Rome, four from North Africa, eight from Greece, two from Spain, and one from Gaul.

[8] The novel was inspired by Hawthorne's visit to the Palazzo Nuovo of the Capitoline Museum in Rome after moving his family to Italy in 1858.