March 4: World Obesity Day

The satyr Seilenos is mostly portrayed as a silly drunk, and his fat belly has been mocked throughout the centuries. Although some movies suggest otherwise, he was never associated with Herakles. (The “Phil” character in this movie is artificially composed by the wisdom of teacher-centaur Cheiron, the name of Herakles’ life long friend and the appearance of Seilenos.) Seilenos was in fact the foster father and tutor of wine god Dionysos. And as grumpy as the movie suggests. He had a pessimistic, even nihilistic world view, and from him is the quote: “The very best thing is not to be born, the second best thing is to die soon.” No wonder the philosopher Nietschze was a big fan. Allthough his “terrible wisdom” wasn’t always easy to accept, Dionysos held him in high esteem, and expected the same from others. Seilenos followed the god all over the world, and presided over his cult and rituals. As he didn’t like life all that much, he chose indulgence as a coping strategy. If you’re not immortal, I wouldn’t recommend it.

Papposilenus, figurine, Musée du Louvre, Paris, France

The Drunken Silenus, Pieter Paul Rubens, Alte Pinakothek, Münich, Germany