The ancient Greek god Pan: who is he and what is the relationship with Jesus Christ (Part: 1)
Today we will talk about Pan. Yes, I was interested in the god Pan. By the way, this is the only ancient Greek god that Plutarch mentioned. But it wasn’t the story about the god Pan that interested me. What's most interesting is how he relates to Jesus Christ.
Who is God Pan?
In Ancient Greek mythology, Pan occupied one of the most prominent places. He patronized ALL nature. Yes, to animals and plants. Protected herds of animals, shepherds, fields and forests. He was depicted as a half-goat - half-man.
In Ancient Greece it was believed that he was born in the small state of Arcadia. This is a rural kingdom. It was precisely such a state that was inherent in such a god as Pan. The screams of God were so strong and impressive that an inexplicable, all-encompassing fear appeared in the souls of the travelers. So much for the story of how the word “panic” came to be.
Pan in literature
The poet Pindar is the first to mention God. Moreover, he appears before readers in the image of a rural god. He did not need to build temples and cathedrals. You need to worship God in the fresh air. Accordingly, sanctuaries were created in caves. But there are no rules without exceptions. So it is with the god Pan. There are 2 temples. The first one is located near the Neda River. It is in a southeast direction from the Peloponnese. The second is located on the territory of the ancient city of Apollonopolis Magna. Nowadays, this is the Egyptian city of Edfu.
Pan in Plutarch's texts
In his work “On the Failure of Oracles,” Plutarch describes in detail the story associated with the god Pan.
A certain Egyptian sailor Thamus sailed past the Echinade Islands. In this very place he heard a voice that told him to do something. “When you get to Palodes, announce publicly that the god Pan is dead.” The sailor did just that. The local residents started a real howl. They screamed and cried in grief. This roar was similar to the cry of the angry god Pan.
So it turns out that the death of Pan is spoken of only in the works of Plutarch. By the way, the event described by Plutarch happened in the middle of the 1st century AD. That is, at the very time when a new chronology appeared: from the birth of Jesus Christ.
To be continued...
picture: screenshot