Silenus

or Si·le·nos, Sei·le·nos

[ sahy-lee-nuhs ]

noun

, Classical Mythology.

, plural Si·le·ni [sahy-, lee, -nahy]

1. a forest spirit, sometimes referred to as the oldest of the satyrs and the foster father, teacher, and companion of Dionysus: often represented as a bearded old man.
2. (lowercase) any of a group of forest spirits similar to satyrs: often represented as a drunken old man with the legs and ears of a horse.

Silenus

/ saɪˈliːnəs /

noun

1. chief of the satyrs and foster father to Dionysus: often depicted riding drunkenly on a donkey
2. Silenisaɪˈliːnəɪ often not capital one of a class of woodland deities, closely similar to the satyrs

Example Sentences

Also in the exhibit is a decoration from a temple rain-gutter depicting a bearded Silenus, a mythological creature associated with Dionysus, the wine god.

From Seattle Times

In “The Troupe,” young George runs away to join the Silenus troupe of vaudeville performers to find the man he thinks is his father.

From Washington Post

Silenus was sometimes said to be Pan’s son; sometimes his brother, a son of Hermes.

From Literature

On the 11th day the king with gladness came to the field of Lydia and restored Silenus to his foster son, Bacchus.

From The Guardian

Ribera’s “Drunken Silenus,” on the other hand, is all about excess.

From Seattle Times