Encounters With Pan One of the most notable historical accounts of an encounter with Pan was given by the historians Herodotus and Diororus Siculus. In 490 BCE King Darius of Persia was marching his army down the eastern coast of the Greek mainland with the intention of conquering all of Greece. The Athenians were making preparations for the inevitable attack on their city and sent a messenger to Sparta to ask for help. They chose a man named Phidippides (Pheidippides) to deliver their request to the Spartans because he was a herald as well as a professional runner. When Phidippides reached Mount Parthenios (Parthenius), which is above Tegea, he heard someone calling his name ... he stopped and came face-to-face with Pan. The Goat-God told Phidippides that he had always been well disposed towards the Athenians and had helped them on many occasions, and would continue to do so. But Pan was perplexed as to why the Athenians did not care for him. After Pan departed, Phidippides continued on to Sparta to delivere his message ... doing as he was instructed, Phidippides asked the Spartans to join the fight against the Barbarians alongside the Athenians.The Spartans were sympathetic but they were bound by their laws and could not leave Sparta until the circle of the moon should be full ... it was their custom not to go out to fight before the moon was full. Phidippides returned to Athens and reported the Spartan response and also of his encounter with Pan. Diodorus Siculus said that Pan promised to fight with the Athenians at Marathon but Herodotus makes no mention of such a promise. After the Athenian victory over the Persians, a temple of Pan was built under the Acropolis and a yearly sacrifice was offered accompanied by a torch-race. Near Marathon there are several places sacred to Pan. A little beyond the plain of Marathon is the Hill of Pan and a remarkable Cave of Pan. The entrance to the cave is narrow, but inside are chambers and baths and the so-called Pans herd of goats, which are rocks shaped in most respects like to goats. Circa 279 BCE, the Gauls invaded Greece and made their way towards Delphi and Mount Parnassos. The Gauls were in retreat when they made camp for the night ... Pan invaded the dreams of the Gauls and caused them to hear imaginary cavalry charging their camp ... terror turned into panic until the entire Gaul encampment was mired in delusion. mythagora/bios/pan.html
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 15:45:34 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015