Discover the secrets of the Fauns. Meet these mythological beings full of stories and amazing powers that will seduce you.
What are the Fauns?
Fauns are mythical creatures with human and goat-like features. They are known for their love of the forest, music and beautiful women, and are generally charming to the people they meet as they trot along their happy, wooded paths.
Physical Description
Fauns are a peculiar and chimerical race: half goat, half human. With horns, furry legs, hooves and a quivering tail, they may not sound like the most lovable characters, but they have their own undeniable charm. You can’t help but love their faces, which combine pointed ears and a head full of woolly curls with youthful features, bright eyes and a mischievous smile.
Above the waist, these woodland creatures have beautiful masculine bodies with lithe limbs. Below the waist, they have two goat feet, making them extremely agile dancers. Although they are not particularly fond of clothing, they like to adorn themselves with wreaths of leaves and berries from their forest home, especially before one of their legendary feasts.
Special skills
It is important to say that these animals are cheerful creatures, and they have a talent for enlightening the hearts of others. If a group of them attacks you, you can be sure that you won’t be running away anytime soon. The little creatures will lure you into their festivities with their dancing, jokes and delicious food.
Of course, they are best known for their flute playing. With just a small wooden flute, they can mesmerize you with fantastic melodies. Hardly anyone can resist a faun with a flute, and indeed, the power of their flutes has led some of them to perform, luring travelers into the forest, where they get lost, or stealing the hearts of beautiful maidens from the rest of the world.
Related characters
In Greek culture, Fauns are associated with Pan, the god of shepherds, wild mountains, meadows, forests, fertility and rustic music. They join Pan in his joy and act as his servants when he needs help.
In return, Pan has given them his signature musical instrument, the pan flute. Like many Greek gods, Pan was eventually passed down to Roman culture under a new name, Faunus. His troop of fauns made this transition with him.
Fauns and satyrs are commonly confused because they have some striking similarities in appearance and personality. However, they are separate creatures. Satyrs are followers of Dionysus, the god of harvest, winemaking and ecstasy. Like the Fauns, they love music, women and parties, but they are far less innocent than their carefree cousins.
Satyrs are cunning creatures, and can be downright destructive when they are bent on having fun, no matter the cost. They are also less physically charming than their woodland cousins. Their faces are less human and their lower bodies are more powerful, more like those of a horse or donkey than a furry, harmless goat.
Greek and Roman mythology
Fauns were popular characters in Greek and Roman mythology. They are mentioned in ancient texts describing the greatest feasts of the gods, and are often written about in the entourage of lovers pursuing nymphs.
For example, they follow in the march of Bacchus, a half-god who roamed the earth teaching men to cultivate vineyards before making a glorious march to Greece, and in the myth of Vertumnus and Pomona, they compete against Vertumnus for Pomona’s beautiful heart.
During the Hellenistic period, the mythical revelers became popular models for statues. In some of these statues, they were portrayed without goat-like features, appearing as gentle, romantic young men with flutes or beautiful women. The most famous of these statues is that of Barberini Faun, which shows a handsome young man exhausted after a long party.
Romantic Period
Animals were revitalized during the Romantic period, when fairy tales gained great popularity. They were separated from the ancient gods of Greek and Roman mythology and became magical, independent creatures of the forest.
One of Romanticism’s most famous authors, Nathaniel Hawthorne, gave a nod to mythical creatures with his acclaimed novel The Marble Faun, while the poet Stéphane Mallarme composed a masterpiece around the enchanting chimera with “L’apres-midi d’un Faune.” This poem later inspired both a symphonic composition and a ballet.
Modern appearances
Surprisingly, the Fauns have changed very little from their early Greek play days to their appearances in modern literature. Although they seem to have emerged from Pan’s thumb, they still have the same rustically charming appearance, fun-loving temperament, and musical talent.
The most famous modern-day Faun is Lord Tumnus, a flute-playing creature who welcomes Lucy Pevensie to the world of Narnia. Lord Tumnus captures a millennial personality, acting both as an agent of evil and as a kindly guide for Lucy, the human girl who has captured his fancy.
