Cilicia. Nagidos circa 400-380 BC.
Obol AR

10 mm, 0,75 g

Head of Pan right / Bearded head of Dionysos right.

Very Fine

Göktürk 4; SNG BnF 16-8; SNG Levante 4.

In Greek mythology, Pan is a deity with the lower body of a goat, including hooves and a tail, and the upper body of a human. He is often depicted with a shaggy beard and is associated with shepherds, the wilderness, and rustic music. Pan is renowned for playing the pan flute, an instrument he is said to have created from reeds. He was believed to inhabit and guard wild and remote places like forests and mountains. Pan's sudden and loud shouts were thought to induce fear, giving rise to the term "panic." Although not one of the major Olympian gods, Pan held significance in Greek mythology as a symbol of the untamed natural world and the pastoral life. His distinctive appearance and character have made him a recognizable and influential figure in art, literature, and modern culture.