SATYROS & AIGIPAN LIBYS
Greek Name
Σατυρος Αιγιπαν Λιβυς
Σατυροι Αιγιπανες Λιβυες
Transliteration
Satyros Aigipan Libys
Satyroi Aigipanes Libyes
Latin Spelling
Satyrus Aegipan Libys
Satyri Aegipanes Libyes
Translation
Libyan Satyrs
Libyan Aegipans
THE SATYROS LIBYS and AIGIPAN LIBYS were two breeds of satyr- and Pan-like wild-men or monkeys which inhabited the Atlas Mountains of north-west Africa.
They were related to the Satyroi Nesioi and the Ethiopian Satyr encountered by the philosopher Apollonios of Tyana.
The creatures were probably derived from fanciful travellers' tales of monkeys and baboons.
CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES
Pliny the Elder, Natural History 6. 197 (trans. Rackham) (Roman encyclopedia C1st A.D.) :
"Rising from the sea at the middle of the coast [of the Atlantic coast of Aithiopia (Africa)] is a mountain of great height which glows with eternal fires--its Greek name is the Chariot of the Gods; and four days' voyage from it is the cape called the Horn of the West, on the confine of Africa, adjacent to the Western Aethiopes [black Africans]. Some authorities also report hills of moderate height in this region, clad with agreeable shady thickets and belonging to Aegipanes and Satyri (Satyrs)."
SOURCES
ROMAN
- Pliny the Elder, Natural History - Latin Encyclopedia C1st A.D.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.