Who or what were satyrs and maenads?
They were the followers of Dionysos. Satyrs were mythical creatures, part man and part horse (hence the tails). They were very fond of wine, and liked to over-indulge in it whenever possible. They were also fond of women, whom they are often shown pursuing or embracing. So, in ancient Greek art and thought satyrs were a way of expressing the more basic and animal-like elements of (male) human nature. Maenads were the female members of the Dionysian circle. They were presented as ‘normal’ women who ran away from their homes to enjoy orgiastic dancing and drinking sessions on the mountainsides. So, they embodied male fears of what women might get up to if not kept under strict control. The leafy staff that the maenad carries is called a thyrsos; its head is a bunch of ivy leaves. A thyrsos was useful either for waving in the dance, or as here, as an offensive or defensive weapon.
