faunen

Faunen are mythological beings from European folklore, typically depicted as rustic, goat-legged humanoids with human upper bodies, horns, and sometimes tails. The word Faun (plural Faunen in German; English uses Fauns) derives from the Latin Faunus, a god of the forest and fields, and is closely related to the Greek satyr Pan. In Roman tradition the Fauni were nature spirits associated with fertility, shepherds, and rustic music; they were often depicted in art and literature as playful, mischievous, or benevolent companions of rural rites. They can be worshipped or invoked in rural cults and are commonly connected with dance, piping, and a carefree rustic ethos.

In myth, fauns and satyrs share a goat-like form but fauns are usually seen as milder, more domesticated woodland beings, whereas satyrs in Greek art are wilder and more lustful, though the distinction varies by author. The images and motifs of fauns spread across medieval and Renaissance literature and painting and persisted into modern fantasy. In contemporary fiction and games, fauns are common tropes, often depicted as intelligent, musical, nature-bound humanoids; one famous English-language example is Mr. Tumnus, the faun in C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia.

See also Pan, Satyr, Mr. Tumnus. Note: “Faunen” should not be confused with “Fauna” (the animal life of a region in German).