Pan is a Greco-Roman God (Roman name: Faunus) who was worshipped
between 800 BCE – 400 CE (Christianization). He is Arcadian, originating in
the mountains of Peloponnese. Because his followers were so highly
civilized, we have many written records of Pan and his legends. In fact
there are several versions of just about everything written about him,
including 14 versions of his mythology, written after 490 BCE, and at least
20 versions of his birth.
He was born on Mount Lycaeum – that seems to be a common fact. But to
whom? Although there is some allusion to Zeus or Apollo as the father,
by far the most popular choice is Hermes. Now the mother is another
matter. Choices are: Penelope-Daughter of Dryopos, Thymbris, Penelope,
Kallisto, or Orneios. Penelope-daughter of Dryopos is by far the most
accepted choice. The story goes like this:
Penelope, daughter of Dryopos, bore Hermes a son with goat’s feet,
horns, a full beard, and covered with hair. (The explanation for his
physical appearance may lie in the legend that Penelope was raped by Hermes
while he was in the form of a billy goat! Shape-shifting was quite
common amongst the Gods.)
Pan was a noisy, merry, laughing child at birth, but his looks
frightened his Nurse (some sources say his mother) and she abandoned him and
fled. Whereupon his father, Hermes, picked him up in his arms, wrapped
him in the skins of mountain hares, and took him directly to Zeus, who
promptly showed him to all of the other Gods. They were all delighted
with him – especially Dionysus.
Dionysus’ special fondness for Pan is not surprising considering the
fact that Pan was very Satyr-like. Satyrs are deities of the woods and
mountains which are half human and half beast. They typically have the
horns, flanks, tail and hooves of a goat, and are known companions of
Dionysus. They spend most of their time drinking, dancing, and
fornicating.
In addition to the physical description already given, Pan was a
diminutive man with a snub nose, pointed ears and a very prominent chin. He
also had long unkempt hair and was always naked, presumably because of
his close association with nature. But also because of an incident
involving Hercules and the Lydian Queen Omphale, who came to a cave while
supper was being prepared, and swapped clothing. After the meal they fell
asleep still in each others clothing, and were seen by Pan as they
slept. Pan, being Pan, tried to "lie" with the one he thought was the
"girl." Needless to say he was not warmly welcomed by Hercules (although I
have heard stories … ) who proceeded to kick Pan across the room! Pan
got even by spreading rumors that Hercules was a transvestite! And to
avoid a possible recurrence of this situation, Pan insisted from that time
forward that his followers, the Luperci, be naked at the ceremonies –
in case of further painful mistakes!
Pan was also very well endowed, and was quite often represented in
ithyphallic form (with a full erection). One Greek vase even shows his
large member caught in a trap meant for wild animals! He was usually
portrayed as a very swift runner who climbed rocks with ease. He was usually
seen carrying a shepherd’s crook in one hand, his Pan Pipes in the
other, and wearing a garland of pine boughs around his neck.
The most commonly accepted definition of the name "Pan" is "All." This
is usually interpreted to mean "symbol of the universe,"
"personification of Nature," or "representative of ALL of the Gods." However there
are those, including myself, who do not agree with this theory. We
believe that the name "Pan" does NOT mean "All" although this meaning was so
often applied to his name that it gained a certain degree of authority
through repeated use, and is certainly an accepted definition of the
word today. Rather, the name "Pan" may have been derived from the Greek
work "paein," which means "herdsman" or "pasture." I think this
interpretation makes much more sense.
Another word which is closely associated with Pan is "panic." There are
actually two interpretations of this word. One is that Pan would cause
a sudden horrific noise, causing "panic." Pan used this weapon quite
effectively against the Titans when he was fighting with the Olympians.
He invented a type of trumpet made from a sea shell which, when he blew
on it, raised such a frightful noise the Titans withdrew, thinking a
terrible monster was after them.
The other "Panic" which Pan caused was a very quiet one, by contrast.
The lonely traveler, walking through the woods at night, would suddenly
become very frightened for no apparent reason, and would experience a
"panic terror."
Many books on mythology classify Pan as a "lesser God" – greater than
humans, but "inferior" to the "greater Gods." This was perhaps because
Pan was not immortal, and was never allowed on Mount Olympus. Those who
worshipped him did NOT see him that way, however. And there were MANY
worshippers – so many that the Christians had to demonize him, and
suppress or absorb his beliefs.
Although referred to by the Gods as a "newcomer," he was actually one
of the most ancient of Gods. Pan may have been one of the male consorts
of the Mother Goddess, and her Overlord of Nature and Lord of Beasts.
Some of the symbolism which is ascribed to Pan is as follows:
"The horns of Pan are like the rays of the sun and the horns of the
moon; his face is ruddy, in imitation of the aether; he has spotted
faun-like skin on his breast, in likeness of the stars; his lower parts are
shaggy, on account of the trees, shrubs, and wild beasts; he has goat’s
feet, to denote the stability of the earth; he has pipes of seven
reeds, on account of the harmony of the heavens, in which there are seven
sounds; he has a crook, that is a curved staff, on account of the year,
which runs back on itself, because he is God of all Nature."
[www.belinus.co.uk/mythology/GreatGodPan.htm]
"From the waist downwards, Pan is the very representation of nature, of
the woods and the trees, man’s lower nature. But as we look above, he
has become the man of strength but also of sensitivity. His love of
music, his often hopeless pursuit of the Nymphs…And his horns, symbols both
of power and the symbol of his divinity and connection to the universe.
As above, so below." [www.belinus.co.uk/mythology/GreatGodPan.htm]
Pans nature and temperament are complex and often hidden – the mask
beneath the mask. Socrates refers to Pan as "the double-natured son of
Hermes." His piping can be as soft and seductive as a gentle breeze, but
when angered, his bellow and howl can be heard for miles. He is
jolly…and he is terrifying, for his temper is great! He can be unpredictable
and is not tameable or capable of being confined.
Another example of his unpredictability: Pan usually slept in the
noon-day sun. He would get very upset if disturbed from his sleep by an
unwary traveller – yet he was normally very friendly to strangers, 1)
helping lost travellers find their way home, 2) helping hunters track wild
beasts, and 3) rescuing sailors from a becalmed ship.
His lust for Nymphs (beautiful young female spirits), Naiads (Nymphs of
springs), Dryads (Nymphs of trees), and Oreads (Nymphs of the
mountains) is legendary. But when he was thwarted in his amorous pursuits the
results could be tragic. Here are but two examples:
1) Pan attempted to pursue Echo, who rejected him and fled from him.
Pan caused such a "Panic" amongst the shepherds that they tore her to
pieces, leaving only her voice untouched. From that day onward she was
only a voice – and was allowed only to repeat the last words spoken to
her.
2) Syrinx, a lovely Nymph devoted to Artemis, rejected the advances of
the woodland spirits but caught the eye of Pan, who chased her. She ran
until stopped by a river, whereupon she begged her sister Nymphs to
change her form. They did so, and when Pan thought he had caught her, he
held in his hand instead some marsh reeds. When he sighed, the moving
winds began to utter plaintive music in the reeds. The sound was so sweet
that Pan uttered, "Forever this discovery shall remain a sweet
communion binding thee to me." He then joined together reeds of different
lengths with beeswax and created the Syrinx or Pan Pipes. [Ovid:
Metamorphoses]
Pan was known to court beautiful young boys as well. One such boy was
Daphnis, whom Pan taught to "play his pipes".
Pan came by his musical abilities naturally. His father, Hermes, was a
great musician. Pan played his pipes to raise the North Winds, and to
charm both Gods and humans. It is said he could play so sweetly the
birds would stop their singing to listen.
Pan once challenged Apollo to a musical competition. King Midas was
appointed judge. Apollo played his lyre and Pan played his pipes. After
hearing both, Midas declared Pan the winner, whereupon the enraged Apollo
shouted, "You will have ears to match the mind you have in judging." He
then caused poor Midas’ ears to grow long and pointed, like those of an
ass. Midas tried to hide his ears under a turban, but to no avail.
Despite all of his amorous adventures, Pan was a family man. By his
wife, Aix, he had 12 goat-legged sons (called Panes). She bore a 13th son
named Aigipan who was actually fathered by Zeus.
No temples were built to worship Pan. His natural temples were caves,
and grottos, and quiet sanctuaries in wild places or by cool streams. He
is often described as wandering amongst the wooded mountains and
valleys and taking part in the chase, like Herne the Hunter. There is even a
shrine to Pan hidden away in a shallow cave under the Acropolis, in a
suitable wild and unkempt place.
Because he lived in the mountains and forests with the goats, and not
on Olympus, the common people identified with him more than with any
other God. He was not particularly liked by the other Gods, however.
A typical day in the life of Pan consisted of wondering the hills,
mountains, and forests – slaying wild beasts. Noon was nap-time. Evening
consisted of playing sweetly on his pipes and frolicking with the singing
Nymphs, and perhaps causing some panic amongst travellers wandering
through the woods late at night.
The complexity of Pan can readily be seen in the variety of things of
which he was a God:
Nature – protector of male animals, shepherds, flocks, smaller animals,
bee keeping, wolves, green pastures, growth, forests, wild places, the
sea; Things Sexual – fertility, earthiness, fornication, unbridled male
sexuality, carnal desire; The Arts – music, dance; The Male Counterpart
of Hekate – the wild things in us all, good journey, prophesy (Pan is
said to have taught Apollo the Art of Prophesy), Keeper of Summerland,
death and rebirth. He is Gwern, oldest of the Gods, and Lugh is his
solar self.
Pan liked noise and merriment, orgies, sportive dances, singing and
playing with the nymphs, playing his pipes, high-pitched songs, and music
in general, Crocuses, and Hyacinths.
Things which were Sacred to him include: pine trees, fir trees, oak
trees, plants of the meadows, perfumes of cedar and balsom, and Mount
Lampeia.
His festivals include an Annual Arcadian Festival in his honor in which
young men ran about naked for sport and wontonness. This festival often
included sacrifices and races with torches (another tie to Hekate?).
The festivals usually ended with feasting and orgy. (One must realize
that the original meaning of the term "orgy" was to celebrate life and
rebirth and to stimulate Nature to give of its best – not the Christian’s
evil connotations that it has today.) Pan’s festivals were closely
associated with those of Dionysus – God of Wine and Fertility – and were
later absorbed into his rites.
It is easy to see where Christianity gets its "Devil." For Pan (and
also Cernunnos) stood for everything that the Christians were against –
love of life, fun, dancing, sex, etc. Thus the physical image of a
"Devil" with horns, a tail, a goatee, and even the pitch fork (shepherd’s
staff) was easily recognizable to any pagan as one of their chief Gods.
In all of Greek mythology there is but one legend concerning the death
of a God – and that God is Pan. The legend goes like this:
A freight ship carrying many passengers was sailing near the island of
Paxi, when a voice from the island called to the Egyptian pilot,
Thamus. This was quite unusual, because hardly anyone on board the ship even
knew the pilot’s name! Twice he was called and made no reply, but the
third time he answered; and the caller, raising his voice, said "When
you sail by Palodes, announce aloud that Great Pan is dead."…Under the
circumstances Thamus made up his mind that if there was a breeze he would
sail on by and say nothing. But if there was no wind and a calm sea, he
would repeat what he had heard. When he came opposite Palodes there was
no wind or wave – so Thamus repeated what he had heard –"Great God Pan
is dead." Even before the last word had left his lips there arose from
the island a great cry of grief not of one person but of many, mingled
with exclamations of dismay. [Plutarch – de defectu oraculorum, 419b-e]
Another famous poet, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, also wrote a poem
about Pan’s death. It is entitled "The Dead Pan’ and contains 39 verses.
This is the Pan of history and of legend – and all that is written here
is true. But over the years I have gotten to know Pan in a different
way – on a much more personal level. I cannot tell all that I know, for
some things between my God and me are extremely personal. But I can tell
you that Pan can be extremely loving and caring towards those who
worship him. The Great God Pan is Alive! He is very much alive – and always
will be, so long as there are those who will remember him and worship
him.
Lift us, mighty Pan
Come near, excite us.
Give us creative power
And freedom from fear.
IO Pan, Pan, Pan!
IO Pan, Pan.
IO Pan