Pan: The Great Horned God

 Explanation: 


This next god is much less severe then the others I have discussed. A god of nature and avid musician, Pan. Pan is the god of shepherds, the wild, and rustic music. Of these music is the one he is least accredited for, and the one he was told to enjoy the most. He was so proud of his musical ability that he challenged his uncle to a competition, this uncle being the god of music Apollo. Apollo played his lyre and beat Pans pipes. The lyre was a gift from Hermes, messenger of the gods, who, with Penelope (wife of Odysseus), fathered Pan. His biggest contribution to the modern world is the word “panic” which is derived from his name and ability to invoke deep fear and cause even gods to run in terror. The only instance of this is when Olympus was under attack by the Titans and Pan screamed causing them to retreat, giving the gods time to prepare a defensive. In addition he had an association to promiscuity, as a nature god he was consequently considered a fertility god. This was well depicted in myths and art, precious few of his stories are about anything but his failed relations with a number of men, women, nymphs, and gods across Greece. These stories made it to Rome, where he was christened “Silvanus.” Worship of Silvanus focused on his bailiwick of the forest.

Worship: 


The worship of Pan was unique among the gods. He was almost always worshiped in caves and groves instead of temples, with only two being attributed to him. Often offerings consisted of meat, particularly pork, grain, milk, and fruit.

Conclusion: 


The oddities of this god make him unforgettable to all those who have read about him. A free spirit, even among a pantheon of aloof gods. His unique character should have earned him more notoriety than he received. 

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