In the renowned book “The Chronicles of Narnia : The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe”, we, the viewers, are introduced to Mr. Tumnus. But what is the actual myth behind this odd fella?

Well, it all begins back in ancient Greece. The Satyrs were a race of woodland spirits, who evidently personified the free,wild, and untrammelled life of the forest.

Their appearance is believed to be both grotesque and repulsive. They are known to have flat broad noises, pointed ears, and little horns sprouting from their foreheads. They also have a rough shaggy skin and small goat’s tails.

They tend to lead a life of pleasure and self-indulgence, followed by the chase and then revel in every description of wild music and dancing. They were terrible wine-bibbers and were addicted to deep slumbers which follow heavy drinks. They were no less dreaded by mortals than by the gentle woodland nymphs, who always avoided their coarse rough sports.

Satyrs were considered to be conspicuous figures in the trains of Dionysus. Silenus was their chief and tutor to the wine god.

Older Satyrs were called Silens. They were represented in antique sculptures, as more nearly approaching the human form.

Artists delighted in depicting little Satyrs as young imps frollicking about the woods in a marvelous variety of attitudes. These little fellows resembles their friends and companions, the Panisci.

In rural districts, it was customary for the shepherds and peasants who attended the festivals of Dionysus to wear skin of goats and other animals. Under this disguise, they permitted themselves all kinds of playful tricks and excesses.

In Rome, the old italian wood-divinities were called Fauns. They also had goat’s feet and all other characteristics of the Satyrs greatly exaggerated were identified by them.

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