"There
was a certain cave near Thebes in Egypt which resembled a shepherd’s
pipe, since as it followed its winding course in the depths of the earth
it formed a natural spiral; for it did not take a straight course at
the opening and then branch off into straight-running corridors, but
winding about under the mountain it made a huge spiral, ending in a most
difficult maze. In it was set up an image
of a Satyr wrought in marble. He stood on a base in the attitude of one
making ready to dance, and lifting the sole of his right foot backward
he not only held a flute in his hand but also was being the first to
leap up at its sound; though in reality the flute’s note was not
reaching the player’s ear, nor yet was the flute endowed with voice, but
the physical effect which flute-players experience had been transferred
to the stone by the skill of the artist."
- Callistratus, from "Descriptions" (It seems he began the book with this description of a statue of a satyr), translation by Arthur Fairbanks.
- Callistratus, from "Descriptions" (It seems he began the book with this description of a statue of a satyr), translation by Arthur Fairbanks.