Pan was an Arcadian shepherd god. He was the son of Hermes by Penelope (possibly the daughter of Dryops) or of Zeus and Hybris. As god of the green pastures and flocks he was associated with the worship of Dionysus, and as a mountain deity with that of Cybele. He was fond of sportive dances, singing with the nymphs, and playing on pipes, the sprinx or Pan pipes, invented by him according to this story. Pan fell in love and chased a coy nymph named Syrinx. She begged the local nymphs to transform her into marsh reeds, detesting his ugliness with goat legs and horns. They did so and Pan had to content himself by fashioning several lengths of the reeds together with wax that produced such sweet notes when skillfully played.

      He once ventured to challenge Apollo to a musical competition. Midas was selected to judge the event. Apollo played his lyre and Pan the pipes. Midas awarded the prize to Pan. Apollo punished Midas making his ears grow like those of a donkey.

      Pan's customary method of overcoming an enemy force was to infect it by means of a sudden, horrified shout, or "panic." He used this weapon effectively against the Titans during their war against the gods.

ACTIVITIES:
Pan activity

KEY TEST WORDS:
Pan, god of flocks and pastures. Symbol: goat's legs and face.

The Lesser Deities

The Underworld

Footnotes:
Pan was adopted late into the official pantheon, counted along with Dionysus and Hercules. His name meant "He Who Feeds."

SOURCES:
Jane Smith
Edith Hamilton's Mythology
Edward Tripp's "Crowell's Handbook of Classical Mythology"
"Manual of Mythology" by Alexander S. Murray.