The Story of Silenus
Silenus was the jolly old companion and tutor of Dionysus. His family is told in different ways, with some calling him a son of Hermes or Pan. When the infant Dionysus was hidden from Hera, Silenus helped the nymphs of Mount Nysa raise him, and he followed the god faithfully ever after.
He was pictured as a bald, potbellied old man with a snub nose and a beard, usually drunk and often riding a donkey because he could not walk straight. Lively satyrs and older figures called sileni gathered around him in the wild processions of Dionysus. Yet behind his clownish looks, the Greeks believed, lay deep wisdom and the gift of prophecy.
One story tells how King Midas wanted to learn that wisdom and captured Silenus by mixing wine into a spring where he drank. When Midas asked what was best for mankind, Silenus gave a grim answer. The best thing, he said, was never to be born, and the next best was to die as soon as possible.
In Ovid's telling, Silenus wandered off drunk and was brought by Phrygian peasants to King Midas. The king entertained him kindly for days and then returned him to Dionysus. In thanks, Dionysus offered Midas any wish, and Midas foolishly asked that everything he touched turn to gold.
In Athenian satyr plays, Silenus often led the chorus of satyrs, as he does in Euripides' play Cyclops. In Plato's Symposium, Alcibiades compares Socrates to the hollow statues of Silenus that looked ugly outside but held images of the gods within. That comparison sums up how the Greeks saw him, as a ridiculous figure hiding real wisdom.
Famous Myths About Silenus
The Wisdom of Silenus
King Midas once captured Silenus by mixing wine into a spring. When asked what was best for mankind, Silenus replied that the best thing was never to be born, and the next best was to die soon.
The Golden Touch
In Ovid's telling, Silenus wandered drunk into Midas's gardens, and the king treated him kindly and returned him to Dionysus. As a reward, Dionysus granted Midas the wish that everything he touched turned to gold.
Silenus's Family Tree
Parents of Silenus
Partners of Silenus
Children of Silenus
Frequently Asked Questions About Silenus
Who is Silenus in Greek mythology?
Silenus is an old companion of Dionysus, always drunk and riding a donkey, but known for his deep wisdom.
How was Silenus linked to Dionysus?
Silenus was the tutor and foster father of the young Dionysus and followed him everywhere.
What happened between Silenus and King Midas?
When Midas found the lost Silenus and treated him kindly, Dionysus rewarded the king with a wish, and Midas asked for the golden touch. In another story, Silenus told Midas that the best thing for a man is never to have been born.
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