Faun Sightings

[kurtedwr]

http://www.newanimal.org/satyr.htm

 

Could anything like a satyr really exist? Before examining that question through the lens of cryptozoology, we first need a basic definition to work with. The best place to go for that definition is folklore (the modern sightings will be examined afterwards). In legends and mythology, satyrs look like men with pointed ears, horns, and goat legs. They are tricksters and symbols of the sensual life, closely associated with sex and with Dionysus, the god of wine.

 

There were a number of variations on the basic satyr legend. Sometimes there were odd versions of the standard satyr, such as those that substituted the body parts of antelopes or horses instead of goats, and some that breathed through holes in their chests. The satyrs with horse hindquarters and ears were called "sileni." Monkeys of various sorts were once shown to a credulous public as satyrs, even though they do not fit the basic description found in mythology.

 

Much to the embarrassment of cryptozoologists, satyrs are not confined to time-worn mythology. Modern sightings of satyrs have continued, though they are not especially common when compared to the large masses of other hairy humanoid sightings that keep Bigfoot researchers so busy. In keeping with their mythical connection to sex, they are often reported by teens who have been having sex in cars. Satyr-like beings, such as the Lake Worth monster, are frequently interpreted by cryptozoologists as misidentified Bigfoots. The basic idea is that, if the creature that is being reported sounds like a satyr, it can't possibly be a satyr. Therefore, it has to be something else.

 

Two of the most notable satyrs of modern America are the Pope Lick monster of Kentucky and the creature called "Goatman" which is usually associated with Maryland, but this same label is sometimes applied to sightings of satyr-like creatures from any American state, regardless of how far away from Maryland it is. Other creatures of interest are the Chevo Man of California and the Marshall Goatman of Texas.

 

The Maryland "Goatman" is reported as very aggressive, especially towards teenage lovers. It is often seen carrying an axe, and its activities include damaging cars and killing animals. There are also unsubstantiated reports of the Maryland Goatman killing humans. In sightings, it can appear as a standard satyr-like form, or with almost the opposite anatomy: a naked human with a goat's head. Most of the sightings take place in Prince George