Pan

PAN

Pan is the god of sheperds, flocks, mountain wilds, hunting, rustic music, theatrical criticism, fields, groves and wooded glens. He is also the companion of the Nymphs. He has the same legs and horns as a goat, like those of satyrs or of fauns. The father of Pan is unknown, though it is thought to be either Zeus or Kronos. Kronos seems more likely because Kronos also had Cheiron, who was half man half horse like Pan is half man half goat. He was born in Arcadia among the mountains and became friends with the herdsmen, hunters, and fisherman. He was attented by a troop of servants that were also half man half goat. These were called satyrs. He was fond of the nymphs of the trees and one attended to him. Whenever Pan uttered a piercing cry in the forest, Echo would always answer him. Pan fell in love with Echo, and chased her all around but never could catch her. The hunters and herdsmen loved him but sometimes feared him, for when he let out his piercing cry it would strike fear in men and make their hearts jump. This is called Pan's terror, or panic. He sometimes used this in war to help his side defeat the opposing forces. Hunters and herdsmen would ask his help in tending their herds and hunting their game. In thanks they would hang a head, horns or skin on a large tree's branches. Pan liked music and dancing and he invented the panspipes.These were an instrument consisting of seven hollow reeds of different lengths and are played by blowing into them. When Pan played his pipes the Satyrs danced to the music while the hunters and herdsmen imitated him and danced a long as well while blowing on their pipes. At midday he would sleep in a shady spot by a spring of water. The people were very afraid of disturbing him during his midday slumbers. Pan knew all the secrets of the forest and earth because he lived close to Mother Earth. He also had a gift of divining which he taught Apollo.



Relation to Lightning Theif:

In the Lightning Theif, Grover, one of the main characters is a Satyr. This means he serves Pan. In the book Pan is dead and Grover has to succesfully help Percy through his quest in order to get his searcher's license. A searcher's license is given to the bravest and strongest of Satyrs to allow them to search for Pan and wake him from his sleep.

=== Rouse, WHD. // Gods, Heroes, and Men of Ancient Greece //. New York: New American Library, 2001. Riordan, Rick. // The Lightning Thief //. New York: Hyperion Books, 2006. === "Pan(god)" Sept 14 Wikipedia [] )