Tours: The Paneion

Learn about the Paneion of Alexandria.
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|-|In Honor of Pan=
The Paneion was a temple built in honor of the god Pan, divinity of nature.
This Greek god, often represented as a half-man, half-goat with a beard, horns and goat's hooves, was considered the protector of shepherds and herds.
|-|The God With Cloven Hooves=
Pan's attribute was his namesake musical instrument: the pan flute. His temples were usually located in caves and on high mountains, and were frequented by shepherds.
It is likely that Mediterranean cults adopted the imagery of Pan to symbolize the Christian devil.
|-|An Artificial Hill=
To give proper honor to the god, Alexandrians built an artificial hill upon which they housed his temple, to compensate for the flat relief of the city.
The artificial mound had the shape of a spinning top or a pine cone, which was accessed by a spiral staircase. The top had a panoramic view of the entire city.
Only such heights would be fitting for a mountain god.
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Category:Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt