A satyr is a creature in Greek mythology who was either a forest demon or a fertility deity and is sometimes referred to as an idol. In some legends, satyrs are depicted as the offspring of the gods Hermes and Iphtime. Satyrs are inextricably linked with the Dionysian cult and are always seen as part of the deity's retinue. Most often, satyrs were depicted as figures of a very strong build and considerable physical strength, with the upper part of their body being human and the lower part being an animal, often a donkey. They always walked on two legs. Their noses were flat, and their ears were pointed. Sometimes a horse's or donkey's tail was added to them. Most often, their images on Greek vases show figures with an erect phallus, which confirms that they were perceived as fertility deities. Satyrs, in most accounts, are portrayed as reluctant characters, not seeking to live with them. Interestingly, the characters do not appear in the works of Homer, but they do appear in Hesiod.