Propompoi - Tumblr Posts
“To the Charites (Graces), Fumigation from Storax. Hear me, illustrious Kharites, mighty named, from Zeus descended, and Eunomia famed, Thalia and Aglaia (Aglaea) fair and bright, and blest Euphrosyne, whom joys delight: mothers of mirth; all lovely to the view, pleasure abundant, pure, belongs to you: various, forever flourishing and fair, desired by mortals, much invoked in prayer; circling, dark-eyed, delightful to mankind, come, and you mystics’ bless with bounteous mind.”
Orphic Hymn 60 to the Charites
THE PROPOMPOI: SATYRS & FAUNS
It’s place ranging from February through into March, the Propompeia is a festival honoring all those companions and attendants of Dionysus in His revels and sacraments, those who lead Him from the waters to His sanctuary on Anthesteria in late February… the Maenads and Bacchantes, the Satyrs and Nymphs, the Muses, the Graces, the Kouretes, and more besides. They are, as a group, called the Propompoi (though the Maenad priestesses who form the close retinue of Dionysus are known as his Thiasus).
Here we focus on the Satyrs and Fauns. Though there is no great clarity on this in mythological sources, the basic difference seems to be that of goat and sheep — Satyrs are emphatically goatish, while Fauns derive their name from the shepherd-god Faunus. Now technically, the later Latin term “Faun” was eventually used as a simple equivalent to the Greek term that became our word “Satyr”… however, the goat/sheep differentiation seems significant enough to keep in mind.
So, the narrow upward-pointing horns, the beards, the short erect tails, the hairy pelt, the independent and curious nature, the lean wiry figure that might give way to a hedonistic gut — these are all signs of a goat-footed Satyr. And the wide curling horns, the woolly pelt, the long hanging tails, the divided lip, the herd/group mentality, the bulkier physique that can lead to an aggressive muscularity in males, these are all attributes of sheep-related Fauns.
In any case, Satyrs seem most commonly associated with Dionysos, as befits their exploratory, curious, and independent nature. Though by all means, let’s welcome the occasional mellow and adventurous Faun as well!
——- Sourcing (with help by starborn-vagabond:)
"Nymphs And Satyrs" by Sydney Long
http://victorially.tumblr.com/
HasaBattle on deviantArt
"Irresistable" by Norman Lindsay
George Percy Jacomb-Hood
Is by Katzeh on pixiv
"Pan and Syrinx at the River" by Lullaby Child (Savannah Horrocks?)
Swamp King by Candra
Misc. Greek pottery
Richard Westall
Dionysos finds his Maenads among women who can’t stand any longer being locked into the domestic enclosure. They become wild women who break their chains in order to follow Dionysos the Liberator.
Ginette Paris, Pagan Grace: Dionysus, Hermes, and Goddess Memory In Daily Life
I can’t be the only Pagan on tumblr who enjoys dance as a devotional or ecstatic practice.
That’s me last night, spinning hoops. I went to a dance club with a fellow Pagan last night. We both have described trancing out while dancing… feeling the sensation of being lifted, of my particles spreading out and pulsing to the rhythm of the music… of blissful union with divinity.
I used to be able to reach this state with drums and fire only. Primal. But lately, lights and smoke and the pounding energy of other revelers have been able to get me there. It’s incredible energy. As I gaze into the lights after my third drink, my heart says a prayer to Dionysus, and I feel I am a maenad, tearing at the walls of mundane life, letting my soul (and voice!) scream and yell, and twirl and clap, and spin, and spin, and spin…
Is anyone else an ecstatic or devotional dancer? Anyone else make revelry of some sort a part of your practice?
People say I’m mad. I say I’m Maenad. LOL
I'm gonna poke you in the third eye with my Thyrsus.
Dionysus was rarely without his thiasus in his travels. Below is a summary of those who traveled with him across the world. Family members and lovers will be discussed in other posts, so these are his followers and friends.
Hoofed Revelers
Silenus, the spirit of the wine press and dance,...
