Roman Pan head applique

ITEM: Pan head applique
MATERIAL: Bronze
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 1st - 3rd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 38 mm x 30 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex Dutch private collection, acquired before 1990s

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 4 to 6 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the amount of the sale, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

In Roman mythology and art, Pan was a rustic god associated with nature, wild animals, shepherds, and fertility. Originally a deity from Greek mythology, Pan was later integrated into Roman religious traditions, where he retained his characteristic half-man, half-goat appearance, with horns, a beard, and goat legs. He was often depicted playing his signature musical instrument, the panpipes (syrinx), which he was said to have invented. Pan was a figure of both merriment and mischief, often linked to the countryside and untamed wilderness, where he was believed to dwell among shepherds and nymphs. The Romans associated him with Faunus, another pastoral deity, blending their attributes in religious worship and artistic representation.

Roman depictions of Pan appeared in various forms, including statues, reliefs, mosaics, and decorative objects such as lamps and drinking vessels. He was commonly shown in revelrous scenes alongside Bacchus (Dionysus), satyrs, and maenads, emphasizing themes of hedonism, music, and unrestrained nature. In domestic settings, small bronze figurines of Pan were popular as household decorations, likely serving both as artistic ornaments and as symbols of protection and fertility. His playful and sometimes lecherous nature also made him a frequent subject in Roman frescoes and garden statuary, where he was portrayed chasing nymphs or engaging in pastoral activities.

Pan's presence in Roman culture extended beyond art and mythology into religious practices and rituals. Worship of Pan, often tied to that of Faunus, included rustic festivals such as the Lupercalia, an ancient Roman festival celebrating fertility and purification. Romans also dedicated shrines to Pan in wooded areas and caves, where offerings were made to invoke his favor for abundant harvests and the protection of livestock.