As requested on the day we learned our group symbols (I'm group two, Trees) I did a little research on tree related deities. First of all on Pan, the god of woods, fields, flocks, and sheperds. He dwelt in forests and when the ancients would pass through the paths of the wood and get 'spooked' they blamed the little god, hence the word ''Panic''. Pan was the son of Hermes and Penelope, or Zeus and Hybris. Pan is a symbol of the universe and nature, only later did he become the image of the devil, (cloven feet, goats legs, and horns on his head) . This may have come about as a result of the fact that pan (and the similar looking Satyrs) were a wee bit lusty. Much of the art I found on these creatures showed them to be ''ithyphallic'', (sexually aroused). Suprising how graphic some of these pictures are. Pan is also usually shown holding (or playing) the pipes of Pan (also called the Syrinx). This set of pipes was created by him one day when he was trying to catch the nymph Syrinx. She ran from him to the edge of a river where she entreated the help of her friends the water nyphs. They heard and turned her into a reed just as Pan laid hold of her. He sighed as he realized her new form and his breath played across the reed to make a mornful sound. From that day on he kept a handful of reeds lashed together so he might always sound out for his lost love.
Satyrs (including Pan, though he wasn't one) were also known in relation with Dionysus (Bacchus) who was the god of wine and merryment (read the Bacchai). A few other things Pan was known for, he was the god of fertility, unhindered male sexuality, and carnal desire. I wonder why the Christians didn't like him... He's a lover of nature and noise (mostly high-pitched songs) and is often seen with the Mother of the Gods.
In class today we were asked to decide if the author of Myth: The Way We Were or the Way We Are? (a.k.a. Michael W. Sexson) is truly schizo or if he has decided on which road he actually believes is correct. My opinion is that he is of both minds at the same time without being Schizo. It comes down to this: Myth is an excellent way to remember our past, and we can learn much from it, but only if it isn't taken too far. Like he said in class, ''There comes a time when a person must grow up'', other wise you have people believing things that could be harmful to themselves and/or others. Myth (like anything else in life) is not nor could ever be black and white. Myth, at least classic myth, has died however and lives only in our memories. Below is a passage from my Bulfinch's Mythology book that was quoted from a Christian poet, Mrs. E. Browning
Some chief Beauty conquering you,
By our grand heroic guesses
Through your falsehood at the True,
We will weep not! earth shall roll
Heir to each god's aureole,
And Pan is dead.
''Earth outgrows the mythic fancies
Sung beside her in her youth;
And those debonair romances
Sound but dull beside the truth.
Phoebus' chariot course is run!
Look up, poets, to the sun!
Pan, Pan is dead.''
