Mythical Spotlight: Pan

One of the things you will quickly realize when looking at the statuary and other carved art pieces that grace the Sonnenberg Estate is that many characters are from the Classical Mythology of Ancient Greece and Rome. It is rather like a Greco-Roman mythology who's-who. Here is a quick spotlight of one of those characters that can be seen at Sonnenberg.

Pan
Location: Rock Garden
Type: Free-standing Statue
Mythology Origin: Ancient Greece

Description:
Pan was the god of wild places and the patron deity of shepherds. He is depicted in much the same manner as a faun with the hindquarters and horns of a goat. Pan's origins are unclear. Some tales say he is the son of Hermes while others point to Zeus or other gods. Pan was also associated with music and he was said to have created the syrinx or panpipes. (The Sonnenberg statue shows Pan holding a set of these pipes.) Being a pastoral god, natural caves and grottos instead of man-made temples are where people worshipped him. Pan is said to be the origin of the word panic due to his terror-inducing shouts.

More Info:
Pan (Wikipedia)
Pan (Ancient History)
Pan (Theoi)

Pan overlooking the Rock Garden
(Click on image to see a larger view)