[sil-vey-nuh
s] 
[-nahy] for 2. Roman Religion. | 1. | the god of forests and uncultivated land, later worshiped under three aspects, as the protector of the house, of the herds, and of the boundaries of the farm. |
| 2. | (lowercase) any of a number of forest spirits, identified with fauns. |
| Sil·va·nus also Syl·va·nus (sĭl-vā'nəs) n. Roman Mythology A god of forests, fields, and herding. |
Silvanus
in Roman religion, the god of the countryside, similar in character to Faunus, the god of animals, with whom he is often identified; he is usually depicted in the guise of a countryman. Initially the spirit of the unreclaimed woodland fringing the settlement, he had some of the menace of the unknown. As clearings pushed back the forest, he evolved into a god of woodland pastures, of boundaries, and of villas, parks, and gardens. He never enjoyed a state cult or temple, but the simple ritual of his private worship at a sacred grove or tree had a universal appeal. In Latin literature his character tended to merge with that of the Greek god Silenus, a minor woodland deity, or Pan, a god of forests, pastures, and shepherds, and to be assimilated into the Greco-Roman mythological tradition.
Learn more about Silvanus with a free trial on Britannica.com.