Silenus in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Silenus

20 passages from 5 ancient authors that tell of Silenus, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Silenus was a companion of the god of wine Dionysus in Greek mythology. He was much older than the satyrs, followers of the god, and had the character... For the story in one place, read our article on Silenus.

Euripides (10)

Euripides, Cyclops 96–162First episode: Odysseus meets Silenus and learns of the CyclopesOdysseus asks Silenus where to find water and food. Silenus tells him that this is Mount Aetna in Sicily and that the Cyclopes live on milk, cheese and the flesh of sheep, and that they kill and eat strangers. The Cyclops himself is away hunting.
Euripides, Cyclops 503–575Fourth episode: Odysseus gets the Cyclops drunk and tells him he is NomanThe Cyclops comes out merry with wine and calls for more, and Odysseus persuades him not to share it with his brothers. Silenus sneaks sips as cup-bearer, until the Cyclops takes the wine-skin back. The Cyclops asks the stranger's name, and Odysseus says that it is Noman, and the Cyclops promises to eat him last.
Euripides, Cyclops 163–202First episode: Odysseus' wine buys food; the Cyclops returnsOdysseus lets Silenus taste Maron's wine and offers it in exchange for lambs and cheese, and Silenus agrees, saying that he would give up the flocks of every Cyclops for a single cup. The Chorus asks Odysseus about Troy and Helen, and Silenus brings out the food. The Cyclops is then seen coming, and Odysseus says that the Greeks must not flee from a single man.
Euripides, Cyclops 203–252Second episode: the Cyclops returns and hears Silenus' liesThe Cyclops enters, scolds the satyrs for idling, and asks about his lambs and his milk. He sees the strangers near the folds, and Silenus pretends to have been beaten and says that the strangers robbed the Cyclops' goods. The Cyclops orders his cleavers sharpened and the fire lit to cook them.
Euripides, Cyclops 576–623Fourth episode: the Cyclops carries off SilenusThe Cyclops, reeling with wine, takes Silenus for Ganymede and drags him inside, while Silenus protests. Odysseus tells the satyrs that the Cyclops is sunk in slumber and the brand is already smoking in the cave. He prays to Hephaestus and Sleep, and the Chorus longs to see Bromius again.
Euripides, Cyclops 253–312Second episode: Odysseus and Silenus quarrel before the CyclopsOdysseus tells the Cyclops that they came to buy food and that Silenus sold them the lambs behind his master's back. Silenus protests and swears by Poseidon, but the Chorus says that it saw him sell them. The Cyclops asks who the strangers are, and Odysseus says that they are Ithacans on their way home from Troy, and he begs for mercy as suppliants.
Euripides, Cyclops 41–95Parodos: the satyrs herd the flocks and long for DionysusThe Chorus of satyrs drives in the flocks, calling to the sheep, and laments that on Aetna they have no wine, no dances and no Bacchantes. Silenus tells them to fold the flocks in the cavern, and says that he sees a ship from Hellas at the shore. Its crew carry empty vessels for water and need food.
Euripides, Cyclops 437–502Third episode: Odysseus plans to blind the CyclopsOdysseus tells of his scheme to keep the Cyclops from his brothers and make him drunk, and then to burn out his eye with a blazing olive-branch. He says that he will then carry the satyrs and Silenus away in his ship, and the satyrs offer eagerly to help hold the brand. The drunken Cyclops is then seen leaving his cave, singing.
Euripides, Cyclops 1–40Prologue: Silenus laments his servitude to the CyclopsSilenus calls on Bromius and recalls the toils he has borne for the god, including the battle with the giants and the voyage in search of him after Tyrrhenian pirates carried him off. He says that an east wind drove them near Malea to Aetna, where they are slaves of the Cyclops Polyphemus. He is sweeping out the cave for his master when he sees his sons, the satyrs, driving the flocks home.
Euripides, Cyclops 313–374hSecond episode: the Cyclops rejects hospitality; first choral songSilenus advises the Cyclops to eat every morsel of the strangers, and the Cyclops answers that wealth is the god of the wise, that he does not fear Zeus, and that his belly is his god. He drives the Greeks into the cave, and Odysseus prays to Athena and Zeus. The Chorus sings in horror of the feast of human flesh.

Ovid (1)

Ovid, Metamorphoses 11.85–145Midas and the golden touchDionysus (Bacchus), passing through Phrygia, finds that his old tutor Silenus has been left behind, and King Midas treats him kindly and brings him back. In return Dionysus offers Midas any wish, and he chooses that all he touches turn to gold. When his food turns to gold, he begs to be freed, and Dionysus tells him to wash in the river Pactolus, which carries away the power.

Pausanias (3)

Pausanias, Description of Greece 3.25.1–10Laconian coast: Pyrrhichus, Teuthrone, Cape Taenarum and OetylumPausanias describes the river Scyras, Pyrrhichus with its well said to be a gift of Silenus, and its sanctuaries of Astratean Artemis and Amazonian Apollo, and Teuthrone. At Cape Taenarum he rejects the story of the descent of Hercules and discusses Hecataeus’ account of the snake called the hound of hell. He also notes Arion’s statue, the dolphin at Poroselene, Caenepolis, Hippola, Messa and Oetylum.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 6.24.1–10Elis: the market-place and the Umpires' HallPausanias leaves the gymnasium of Elis for the market-place, built in the old style with separate colonnades, and describes the Umpires' Hall where the umpires-elect live for ten months. He mentions the Corcyraean Colonnade, built from a tithe of spoils taken from Corcyra, and the statue of the sceptic Pyrrho. The finest things in the market-place include a temple of Healing Apollo, images of the Sun and Moon, a sanctuary of the Graces, a temple of Silenus, a building that may be the tomb of Oxylus, and the hall of the Sixteen women who weave the robe for Hera.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.23.1–10Athens Acropolis: Leaena the lioness, Diitrephes, the Satyrs and the Wooden HorsePausanias tells how Hippias tortured Leaena, Aristogiton’s mistress, and why the Athenians set up a bronze lioness, then describes the statue of Diitrephes pierced with arrows and his sack of Mycalessus. A digression on archery, a stone where Silenus rested, and Euphemus’ account of the Isles of the Satyrs follows. He also lists Myron’s Perseus, Praxiteles’ Brauronian Artemis, the bronze Wooden Horse and statues of Epicharinus, Oenobius and Phormio.

Nonnus of Panopolis (5)

Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 19.263–348Book 19: Seilenos dances and becomes a river; Maron's address to the riverSeilenos dances a series of acrobatic figures until he falls and turns into a river. Maron, who wins the golden bowl, throws the silver bowl into the water and addresses the new river, reminding it of the earlier Seilenos whom Apollo flayed and changed into a river for challenging him at the pipes. He tells the river it has paid for competing with its betters.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 19.158–262Book 19: Seilenos and Maron contend for the golden bowlMaron and Seilenos rise to dance for the great bowl. Maron addresses the spirit of Staphylos and mimes the cupbearing of Hebe and Ganymede to the gods. Seilenos mimes a contest between Dionysos and Aristaios, in which the gods judge Dionysos' wine better than Aristaios' honey drink.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 10.321–430Book 10: Wrestling and racing with AmpelosDionysos and Ampelos wrestle on the sands, and Dionysos lets the boy throw him. They then run a race with the Satyrs Leneus and Cissos for prizes set out by the god. Dionysos helps Ampelos to win, and old Seilenos shouts in amazement.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 11.301–427Book 11: Eros tells of Calamos and CarposDionysos prays to Zeus to let Ampelos speak once more and says he would give all the gold of Pactolos to bring him back. Eros comes in the shape of Seilenos and tells him of Calamos and Carpos, two youths of the river Maiandros. They race on land and in the water, and Carpos is drowned by a wind.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 14.0–104Book 14: Rheia arms the gods; Cabeiroi, Telchines, Cyclopes and PansRheia summons all the gods and nature spirits. The Cabeiroi, the Cretan Corybants, the Telchines of Rhodes, the Centaurs and the Cyclopes come to join Dionysos, though Polyphemos stays behind for love of Galateia. The twelve horned Pans are named, and old Seilenos arrives with his three sons.

Orpheus (attributed) (1)

Orpheus (attributed), Orphic Hymns 52–56Hymns 52-56: Trietericus, Amphietus Bacchus, Silenus and the Priestesses of Bacchus, Venus, AdonisThree more Dionysiac hymns address the triennial Bacchus, Amphietus Bacchus, who is called to rise with the nymphs, and Silenus, the Satyrs and the priestesses of Bacchus. Venus is hailed as the sea-born, laughter-loving queen, and Adonis as the best of daemons, who sinks into Tartarus and shines again in the heavens.