Marble Head of a Satyr Playing a Double Flute in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, May 2008

Marble Head of a Satyr Playing a Double Flute
Roman, Imperial period, 1st century AD
Copy of a Greek work of the 3rd century BC

Accession # 23.160.56

This satyr with pointed animal ears is one of the many wild creatures that cavort in the train of Dionysos, god of wine. His brows and lips are puckered and his cheeks distended as he plays a double flute. Such realistic rendition of an exaggerated momentary action is typical of Hellenistic art.

Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.