Facts About Greek Gods/goddeses you may or may not Have known already

Pan

1. Pan, ruled over nature and pasturelands.

2. He is frequently depicted in literature and artworks. 

3.Although he is not one of the major gods of Ancient Greece, he is one of most often referenced figures in Greek mythology.

4.Pan is considered to be one of the oldest of .

5.He is associated with nature, wooded areas and pasturelands, from which his name is derived

6.The worship of Pan began in rustic areas far from the populated city centers, and therefore, he did not have large temples built to worship him. Rather, worship of Pan centered in nature, often in caves or grottos.

7.Pan ruled over shepherds, hunters and rustic music. He was the patron god of Arcadia. Pan was often in the company of the wood nymphs and other deities of the forest.

8.Perhaps because of his association with nature and animals, Pan did not have the appearance of a normal man. The bottom half of his body was like a goat, with the top half of his body being like other men. However, he is often depicted with horns on his head, and his face is usually unattractive.

9.The parentage of Pan is uncertain. Some accounts say he is the son of and Dryope, but others say he is the son of or the son of Penelope, wife of Odysseus. The story of his birth says that his mother was so distressed by his unusual appearance that she ran away, but he was taken to Mount Olympus where he became the favorite of the gods.

10. Pan possessed enormous strength. He could also run for long periods of time and was impervious to injury. He could transform objects into different forms and was able to teleport himself from Earth to Mount Olympus and back.

11.One story concerns Syrinx, a beautiful wood nymph. She flees from Pan's attentions, and her fellow goddesses turn her into a river reed in order to hide her from him. As the winds blow through the reeds, they make a gentle musical sound. Because he does not know which reed Syrinx is, he cuts several from reeds from the group and set them in a line to make the musical instrument, the pan flute. Pan's image is often depicted with this instrument.

12.One story involving Pan is the tale of war, in which Pan helps his friend survive a vicious struggle by letting out an immense cry that frightened the enemy and caused him to run away. From this story, we get the word "panic," the sudden, uncontrollable fear that leads people into irrational behavior.

13.Over the ages, Pan has been a symbol of the force of nature. In the 1800s, interest in this mythological figure revived, and communities organized festivals in which Pan was the central figure. Mythical stories of Pan's antics abound, and he continues to be a figure representing the ancient mystery of the forest, hunting activities and wildlife.

14.Like the of Ancient Greece, Pan embodies many of the qualities of the world over which he ruled. He is depicted as energetic, sometimes frightening, with the wild, unbridled creative force of nature that makes him an interesting, and often entertaining, character.