In its original complete form, this figure would have had a goat tail, still partially visible, pointed ears and small horns characteristic of mythological fauns. Ancient Romans associated fauns with the god Faunus who dwelt in woodlands and fields, and was believed to control the fertility of livestock. The faun is the Roman equivalent of the Greek satyr or god Pan. This remnant of a marble faun may be a Roman copy of an earlier Greek bronze sculpture, part of a group known as "The Invitation to Dance." In this group the faun or satyr is tapping his foot and looking at a nymph who is putting on her sandals.

This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for the public to access for free. Scan the World is an open source, community effort, if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.