Statuette of a Kneeling Satyr

A kneeling satyr raises a keras, or drinking horn, to his lips in this solid bronze statuette. Half-human companions of the god Dionysos, satyrs were known for their lustful and drunken ways. While mostly human in appearance, the satyr's bestial nature is revealed by his pointed ears, snub nose, hooves, and his tail, now missing on this statuette. The drinking horn, used for undiluted wine in ancient Greece, and the satyr's erect penis signal his favorite activities. The complex pose of the satyr, with his head thrown back and limbs extending in all directions, shows the early Classical sculptor's interest in three-dimensionality. The drinking horn was made separately and attached with a pin that runs through it, forming the satyr's thumb and tongue on either end.