Pan is the Greek god of fields, woods and flocks, associated with male virility and depicted in a highly sexualized way. He tended olive trees and vines, played a syrinx, and had violent mood swings. He pursued nymphs and caused irrational fear, and is depicted in Greek art at feasts and as a mentor to shepherds. The Devil in Christian art bears some resemblance to Pan, possibly due to Christian efforts to eradicate paganism.
Pan is the Greek god of fields, woods and flocks. He is also closely associated with male virility and in many artworks and stories he is depicted in a highly sexualized way. The Romans worshiped this god as Faun. In Greece, the cult of Pan was centered in Arcadia, which is said to be where he was born.
According to legend, Pan is the son of Hermes and a nymph, and was especially loved by Dionysus. In his role as god of fields and woods, he tended olive trees and vines with particular care, and was also a beekeeper. As god of flocks, he took care of shepherds, goats and sheep.
Pan’s appearance is quite distinctive. He was born with the legs, horns and ears of a goat, with a human torso, head and arms. He is often depicted playing a pipe known as a syrinx, and in most cases he is a fan of music, dance and partying. However, he is also a highly mutable god, with violent mood swings that could anger or irritate him in a flash, especially when he is awakened from a sound sleep.
In many tales, Pan is shown pursuing various nymphs, especially Echo, with whom he was apparently in love. He is also said to be responsible for irrational bouts of fear and anguish among crowds and herd animals, along with solitary individuals. In fact, the modern English word “panic” is rooted in his name.
In Greek art, Pan is often depicted at feasts and gatherings, sometimes playing his syrinx and dancing, and sometimes serving food from the fields he tends. He is also depicted in artwork showing shepherds, as he was seen as a sort of mentor to the pastoral community, caring for the shepherds and teaching them various useful skills.
Many historians have noted that representations of the Devil in Christian art bear some suspicious resemblance to representations of this god. In the early Christian world, Pan and Faun would no doubt have been regarded as evil figures, as they promoted sexual pranks and other behavior considered distasteful by Christians. In an effort to eradicate paganism, Christians may have linked Pan and the Devil, in hopes of encouraging pagans to take the path of Christianity.
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