Pan
Pan’s Parentage was a problem Of Iong argument. —
BUtmost writers of Greek mythology agree that he was theson of Hermes by the lovely fairy maiden Penelope. —
Hewas a cold,hairy country monster, with the upper part of a manand the body and legs of a goat. —
Wandering about in the mountains and woods with other wood gods and cheerful fairy maidens. —
Pan led a perfectly carefree life.He was admired as the godof woods and pastures , with prophetic powers. —
He represented nature and country Iife.In old times he Was honoured as a godwho was good,just and holy.
Pan had a strong desire for women.At one time he loved acharming maiden,Syrinx,but to his disappointment his love was not returned. —
One day Syrinx left Pan with a fearful step ,which lighted Pan’s love all the more. —
He ran after her and was almost overtaking her when she was turned,at her own request,into a clump of reeds by Mother Earth . —
Pan wept bitterly at the change.Sadly he picked some pieces of the reeds and fashtoned apipe . —
He played so sweetly on it that Apollo was helpless before him.
At the time of the battle of Marathon Pan met the Athenian messenger to Sparta . —
He asked the man to say to the Athenians that,although they did not like him,he still felt kindlytowards them and would aid them in their difficulties. —
When fighting against enemies went on near Marathon,the Athenians were surprised to see that the Persian soldiers were suddenly seized with a mysterious fear and ran away from the field in disorder. —
The great Pan had struck into the hearts of the Persians a kind of fear. —
The fear has been ever since known as panic . —
After the war the Athenians gratefully dedicated a temple to Pan . —
The sacrifices and games were held in his honour.