Pan was the god of woods and pastures in Greek mythology. He also was the protector of shepherds and their flocks. Shepherds and farmers prayed to Pan to make their animals fertile.
Pan was half man and half goat. The ancient Greeks believed he had a wild, unpredictable nature. They also thought he had the power to fill human beings and animals with sudden, unreasoning terror. The word panic comes from his name.
The Greeks associated Pan with wilderness regions. They believed he lived in caves, on mountain slopes, and in other lonely places. The worship of Pan began in Arcadia, a remote region of southern Greece. Pan’s father, Hermes, also was associated with Arcadia. The worship of Pan spread until he became one of the most popular gods.
Pan had many love affairs with nymphs and other divinities (see Nymph). He tried to start an affair with the nymph Syrinx, but she ran away from him in terror and begged the gods to help her. The gods changed Syrinx into a bed of reeds, from which Pan made a musical instrument called a panpipe. He became famous for the beautiful music he played on the panpipe.
See also Faun.
