潘的父母是誰一直是一個有爭議的問題。但是大多數希臘神話作者都認為他是海爾墨斯與可愛的仙子珀湟羅珀之子。潘是一頭冷酷、渾身長滿毛的鄉間野獸，上半身為人，下半身為山羊。他和其它的森林之神及仙女在山林之間閑游，過著完全無拘無束的生活。潘被尊為山林和田園之神，具有預言的能力。他代表著自然和鄉村生活，以前他被奉為一位善良、正直神圣的神。
潘對女人有一種強烈的欲望。一次他愛上了一位迷人少女，西瑞克斯。然而令他失望的是，他的愛情沒有得到回報。一天西瑞克斯恐懼地逃離潘，結果卻使潘的愛情之火更為熾熱。潘追逐著西瑞克斯，他幾乎趕上了她。這時在西瑞克斯的請求下，大地之母把她變成了一叢蘆葦。面對此變，潘放聲慟哭。悲哀之中，潘采折了一叢蘆葦，制成一支風笛。他吹得如此悅耳，就連阿波羅也無法比得上。
在馬拉松戰爭時期，潘遇見了前往斯巴達的信使。他請求信使轉告雅典人：盡管雅典人并不喜歡他，他仍舊愿意友好地對待他們，愿意在他們的困難時期給予幫助。雅典人在馬拉松附近與敵人作戰時，驚奇地發現波斯士兵突然被一種莫名的恐懼所籠罩，他們混亂地逃離戰地。原來偉大的潘給波斯士兵的內心注入了一種恐懼。自此之后，這種恐懼周知為恐慌。戰后雅典人滿懷感激之情建了一座神廟獻給潘，將祭品和獵物敬獻給他以示尊敬。
Pan’s Parentage was a problem Of Iong argument.BUtmost writers of Greek mythology agree that he was theson of Hermes by the lovely fairy maiden Penelope.Hewas a cold，hairy country monster， with the upper part of a manand the body and legs of a goat.Wandering about in the mountains and woods with other wood gods and cheerful fairy maidens. Pan led a perfectly carefree life.He was admired as the godof woods and pastures ， with prophetic powers.He represented nature and country Iife.In old times he Was honoured as a godwho was good，just and holy.
Pan had a strong desire for women.At one time he loved acharming maiden，Syrinx，but to his disappointment his love was not returned.One day Syrinx left Pan with a fearful step ，which lighted Pan’s love all the more.He ran after her and was almost overtaking her when she was turned，at her own request，into a clump of reeds by Mother Earth .Pan wept bitterly at the change.Sadly he picked some pieces of the reeds and fashtoned apipe .He played so sweetly on it that Apollo was helpless before him.
At the time of the battle of Marathon Pan met the Athenian messenger to Sparta .He asked the man to say to the Athenians that，although they did not like him，he still felt kindlytowards them and would aid them in their difficulties.When fighting against enemies went on near Marathon，the Athenians were surprised to see that the Persian soldiers were suddenly seized with a mysterious fear and ran away from the field in disorder.The great Pan had struck into the hearts of the Persians a kind of fear.The fear has been ever since known as panic .After the war the Athenians gratefully dedicated a temple to Pan .The sacrifices and games were held in his honour.
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（兼職編輯：楊帆）
