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Pan, which in ancient Greek means "everything", is the ideal anthropomorphic deity, associated to the fauna of Nature, (both people and animals) in a bidirectional relation of protection, but also personification of the genetic force of life. Combining the human and animal factor, Pan was portrayed having goat feet and residing in mountains, forests, caverns, valleys, and so on. His adoration was equally important to those of other Olympian Gods like Zeus and in the all Hellenic space and further than ancient Greece.

The introduction of Pan in the Greek Mythology is believed to be on the 7th
century BC. According to the prevailing traditions, Pan was born in Lykaion Mountain of Arcadia. As soon as his mother had seen him, she abandoned him frightened from his appearance, with two goat horns on his head, edgy ears, bearded and with goat feet. God Hermes, who happened to be there at the moment, protected little Pan and carried him to Olympus, where baby Pan was welcomed from Zeus and the remainder of Gods. Pan was brought up by the Arcadian Nymphs and therefore he became close friend to Dionysus, presenting himself henceforth as protector of farmers and cattle-breeders and their products, friend of wine and feast.

Pan was the companion of Nymphs and indefatigable lover each male of female that approached the Nature. Protector of proliferation of ovine, he was soon considered to be the same stallion like them. He loved the natural life and he passed endless hours endless playing with his bucolic pipe, the syringe. It is said that Syrinx was also a Nymph, who transformed her self into stubble in order to avoid Pan. Then, Pan cut uneven pieces of cane, which he linked and created his pipe. He had many erotic adventures with various Nymphs, but the most important was the seduction of the Moon.

It is said that Pan helped the Greeks in the Battle of Marathon against the Perses by repeating rhythmically with scary loud voices his name "PanPanPan". Perses were occupied by panic, a word that emanates from the name Pan) and receded.

Pan was primarily worshipped in Arcadia, where he had been born and therefore in antiquity Arcadia was also called Pania. In Lykaion Mountain there was the most ancient temple dedicated to Pan and the Moon. Later, another important temple of Pan was founded in Lykosoura, in which people practised also divinatory. Over time, Pan was also worshipped from the fishermen and many altars were created near the sea, particularly in piscatorial shelters of antiquity.

When the Athenians considered Pan an important factor of their victory against the Perses, Pan acquired also the character of martial deity. Thus in Attica a lot of caverns and hills were named after him. Among these caverns, it is the cavern of north-western side of rock of Acropolis in Athens, another at Parnitha, a third at Marathon and a fourth at Vari, which is called "Cavern of Archedimos". Also Paneio Mountain, north-eastern from Vari, was dedicated to god Pan. Pan was also worshipped in Aegina, Argos, Psyttaleia, Sikyon, Trizina, Oropos, and Megalopolis.

Learn more about this author, Christina Pomoni.
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