Nymphs and Satyrs Playing in the Waves Metal Ornament

This design features a painting by the Swiss Symbolist artist Arnold Böcklin (1827–1901). It shows a group of nymphs and satyrs from ancient Greek mythology: they are swimming in wild water and playing in the sea. Satyrs are male figures with the upper body of a human and the legs of a goat. Satyrs were were associated with nature and fertility in Greek myth. Nymphs are female deities that can be seen as personifications of nature. Nymphs were generally considered to be immortal like other Greek goddesses. Nymphs of the sea were known as Nereids. The original artwork was painted by the artist in 1883.