3 of 4

Write now Article Tools

As a sailor named Thamus made his way to Italy by way of the island Paxi he thought he heard a divine voice hailing him with stunning news.

"Thamus, are you there? When you reach Palodes, take care to proclaim that the great god Pan is dead."

Thamus spread the message sending a wave of groans and laments across the shore. The Greek historian Pluthach recounted this event in "The Obsolesce of Oracles" stating that Pan was the only Greek god to die. Of course the legends and his worship continued. The shrines, sacred caves and mountains where the god of all the wild things was still revered a century after Pluthach himself passed away.

His birth was just as debated as his death. Pan is either the son of Penelope or Dryope a tree nymph. We can be sure he was the son of Hermes. Hermes great Greek god of animal husbandry, writing, persuasion, hospitality, athletic contests and gyms is usually depicted wearing winged shoes since he was the messenger for Zeus himself. Perhaps not the best father figure and his paternity certainly can explain much about Pan.

Pan has curly hair dark hair, goat like horns, and a furry lower body with hooves instead of feet. In his drawings and statues, he has a pleasant, but mischievous face.

The look of mischief perhaps comes from his appetites. He was known to be lustful as you might imagine the god of the wild to be. He had an eye for good food, good wine, pretty nymphs and human women as well.

Pan could charm all of nature and the objects of his infatuations with his musical ability. He played a series of small curved flutes made from reeds looped together with twine or vines. This instrument is also known as a syrinx named for the woman who tried to hide from the god by turning into reeds along a river bank.

His god duties included watching over flocks, mountains, the forest and all the wild creatures dwelling in these places.

While he was married to Aix his most famous romantic conquest is Selene the moon goddess. Of course he had to disguise himself which he did by wrapping a sheep skin cloak around him. This hid his lower form and then drew the goddess down from the sky into the forest where he could seduce her.

In Roman mythology the god was known as Faunus and he was thought of more as a nature spirit. Faunus was the father of Bona Dea sometimes called Fauna. Pan's unique ability was being able to inspire a sudden fear in lonely places or creating disorder, confusion and fear in enemies during battle. Thus we have the word 'panic'.

Pan's draw to those who worshipped him was undoubtedly his connection to nature and the pull all of mankind feels to return to the simple ways of instinct and impulse. Perhaps it's Pan's lustiness or wild image, but his horned vestige bears a striking resemblance to medieval Christian representations of Satan or the Devil in art and literature. So close a resemblance many feel this is not a coincidence.

Pan, however you see him still shows up in literature from Stephen King's Lawnmower Man to Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson & The Olympians so perhaps the reports of his 'death' were a bit premature.

A good source for information on Pan and other Greek gods and figures is at http://gogreece.about.com.

Learn more about this author, Kacey Stapleton.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Understanding the mythology of the Greek god Pan?
We want to hear your view. Write now!