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Maenad and satyr. Ancient Greek kylix by Makron, 490-480 BC. Staatliche Antikensammlungen München Kat. 94. The term "maenads" also refers to women in mythology who resisted the worship of Dionysus and were driven mad by him, forced against their will to participate in often horrific rites.
In Greek mythology, a satyr [a] (Ancient Greek: σάτυρος, romanized: sátyros, pronounced), also known as a silenus [b] or silenos (Ancient Greek: σειληνός, romanized: seilēnós [seːlɛːnós]), and sileni (plural), is a male nature spirit with ears and a tail resembling those of a horse, as well as a permanent, exaggerated erection.
Marble relief of a Maenad and two satyrs in a Bacchic procession. AD 100, British Museum, London. The central religious cult of Dionysus is known as the Bacchic or Dionysian Mysteries. The exact origin of this religion is unknown, though Orpheus was said to have invented the mysteries of Dionysus. [130]
A drinking cup, c. 490–480 B.C., depicting a maenad and a satyr.. The satyr play is a form of Attic theatre performance related to both comedy and tragedy.It preserves theatrical elements of dialogue, actors speaking verse, a chorus that dances and sings, masks and costumes.
Articles relating to the Maenads, the female followers of Dionysus and the most significant members of the Thiasus, the god's retinue. Their name literally translates as "raving ones". Maenads were known as Bassarids, Bacchae, or Bacchantes in Roman mythology, after the penchant of the equivalent Roman god, Bacchus, to wear a bassaris or fox skin.
Silenus refers to the satyrs as his children during the play. Silenus may have become a Latin term of abuse around 211 BC, when it is used in Plautus ' Rudens to describe Labrax, a treacherous pimp or leno , as "...a pot-bellied old Silenus, bald head, beefy, bushy eyebrows, scowling, twister, god-forsaken criminal". [ 7 ]
On temple roofs, maenads and satyrs were often alternated. The frightening features of the Gorgon, with its petrifying eyes and sharp teeth, was also a popular motif to ward off evil. A Roman example from the Augustan period features the butting heads of two billy goats.
Neck front: Dionysos between two satyrs, back: Warrior in chariot in frontal perspective between two youths . Madrid, National Archaeological Museum of Spain; 11008 (L 63) bilingual belly amphora (potter: Andokides) Front: Apollo with kithara between Artemis, Leto and Ares; back: Dionysos with kantharos between satyrs and maenads