|
|
In ancient times Pan
was a relatively minor player. He had no assigned role and did not live
on Olympus like most of the other gods, but instead preferred to simply
enjoy the earthly woodlands and mountains, where he became a patron of
shepards who, like him, lived on the very outskirts of civilization. In the 19th century,
however, Pan became paganism's unofficial mascot, thanks to the Romantic
poets, who wished to escape the rigid social structures and industrialization
of their times. They longed for a return to nature and for simpler times,
and this they saw in ancient Greece and Rome. Pan came to represent all
that they longed for. He is wild and free, untamed and uncivilized, a
being of the forest who shies away from crowds and duties and civilization
or all kinds. God of the Untamed
Wilds -
Pan remains master of all natural areas, especially forests and mountains.
He is the eternal child, curious and carefree, the jester of the gods,
free of responsibility and full of primal, unfettered energy. God of Sexuality
- Pan has become an incredibly sexual character, promiscuous and free
of social constraints. However, "the idea of Pan as incredibly sexually
active is a modern one, as his misfortune with nymphs, dryads and the
like is a large part of his legend. He represents sexual energy pent up
into frustration and ready to burst."1
1 home.att.net/~ladykaat/coven/1stcircle9.html (page no longer online) |
|||