Pan in Mythology

Pan
Pan was the Greek
god of the woods
who looked after
shepherds and
their flocks. His
His mother a
nymph. father is
Zeus, (or Hermes)
he lived in
Arcadia. dwelt in
grottos, wandered
on the mountains
and in valleys,
and amused himself
with the chase or
in leading the
dances of the
nymphs.

Pan Caressing Psyche's Hair

Sylvanus and Faunus were Latin names for Pan

He was fond of music, and was,
as we have seen, the inventor
of the syrinx, or shepherd's
pipe, which he himself played
in a masterly manner.

Wood-nymphs were Pan's
partners in the dance.

Other Nymphs
Naiads: brooks and fountains
Oreads: mountains and grottos
Nereids: sea-nymphs

wood-nymphs, or Dryads or
Hamadryads, perished when the
trees which they lived in
came to an end.
Pan was dreaded by those
whose occupations caused them
to pass through the woods.

Wantonly destroying a tree was
severely punished.

Pan Pan is the son of Hermes. He is the god of goatherds and shepherds. He is
mostly human in appearance but, with goat horns and goat feet. He is an
excellent musician and plays the pipes. He is merry and playful
frequently seen dancing with woodland nymphs. He is at home in any wild
place but, is favorite is Arcady, where he was born. He is always in
pursuit of one of the nymphs but, always rejected because he is ugly.

His name is the basis for the word "panic". There are two differing
explanations for this. The first is that he was present when Zeus defeated
the Titans and claimed that it has his yelling that caused the Titans to
flee. However, this seems at odds with his being Hermes son. The second
is that he created the noises in the woods at night the scared travelers.

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