Forest deities, the Satyrs represented the genial, luxuriant life in nature.
Companions of Dionysos, they exhibited typically some small sign of their bestial nature, as in tiny horns on the head, a small goat's tail, or suchlike.
They were divided into three classes, the first and highest were those who nearly resembled their god, Dionysos, and whose occupation was either to play the flute for his amusement, or pour out his wine. The second class were older, and called Sileni, and the third, very young and juvenile, were known as Satyriski.

The lives of Satyrs were spent in woods and hills, in a constant round of drinking, hunting , dancing, music and gathering and pressing grapes. They were often found in the company of Dionysos, whirling in wild, frenetic dances with the Maenads. Their musical instruments were the syrinx, flute and cymbals.