Pan Possession Analysis

The experience of evil possession persists as well, and eventually, the boundaries between “divine” and “evil” possession plausibly blends together within societies. Through the centuries, this uncontrollable event of possession increasingly became far-reaching. The spiritual comprehension of what exactly a person happen to be dealing with, whether good or bad, ultimately, became acceptable by acquiring large amounts of alcohol, drugs and various sources of stimulators, (as today). This control of a person by a god or deity could easily manifest itself through Apollo, Dionysus/Bacchus, the mother goddess, Cybele, the Muses, Eros, the nymphs, and others known for their abilities to possess. At the same time, on a somewhat obscure level, evolves

the god Pan that accomplishes through the ages his ongoing power of possession; conceivably, known as the universal deity. A number of the gods obtains a spiritual duality; nevertheless, the presence of the god Pan transmits a kaleidoscope of possible tenures, for he occurs forever ambiguous and always creating a hazy confusion.
Generally, Plutarch, (46 B.C.-A.D.

120), a Greek historian, listed several types of possession: such as, the prophetic from Apollo, Bacchus from Dionysus, and the rites of Cybele and Pan were similar, (predictably all involves Pan). Also, Iamblichus, (A.D. 240 to 325, a well respected philosopher and an apologist; pagan defender), wrote the experience of ancient possession occurs as a continuing reality. Indeed, he describes ‘Pan Possession’ as if it were exceedingly real within his reader’s experience. The person possessed by Pan became known as Panolepsy; which means a person behavior becomes seized by the god, dictating an abnormal physiological behavior ranging from an abrupt failure of function or collapse, to exhibiting animal

rage.
Pan’s ability to cause panic did not lend itself to be apprehended; however, in possession, Pan’s wild laughter in Greece became well noted, expressing amusement, gratification, and fertility. His few good traits, like music and dance, occasionally gave the ancients a wish for his presence; yet, he could become a terrifying manifestation to have to deal with outside of this arena, for his demeanor often became reckless and disturbing. Pan’s overshadowing spirit perpetuates in various temples, caves, mountains, etc.; at the same time, he could frighten anyone troubling the god at particular times of the day. Inevitably, his enigmatic occurrence became the perfect deity to help integrate into ancient societies all the ‘weird specifics’ to create an ongoing spiritual, lustful presence that still possesses cultures into this day.
In particular, this goat god makes his presence known by emulating numerous forms moving from one extreme to the other; such as a fit of anger, laugher, music, paranoia, prophecy, lunacy, dancing, attack, and sexual assault, all descriptions that could identify the god Pan’s multi-faceted demeanor. With his whirlwind abilities, one of his keen talents encompasses acquiring handsome companions, like Dionysus and Apollo that helps off-set Pan’s ugly appearance with his ugly intentions. For the unattractive traits of Pan, such as his out of control behaviors and sexual assaults became quickly accepted by people when the beauty gods, like Dionysus and Apollo, displays these temperaments; while Pan cunningly lurks nearby watching.
Similarly, Dionysus maintains a dominating spirit, exhibiting bizarre, out of control behavior in his victims; such as the maenad and local people. Their involvement emerges on a highly sexual nature and Pan became known for directing the possessed maenads in orgiastic riots. In fact, one of the maenad’s ordeals would be to select a man that dresses in goatskin, becoming the special sex partner of the maenads during their drunken orgy. Usually this would take place on the high mountains where their “Pan possession” took over, often becoming lunatics, indulging in copious amounts of self-intoxication, violence, sex, bloodletting, and mutilation. Thus, this emotional rage and hostility by the maenads produces signs known as the ‘upright man’ of satanic possession; moreover, this association involves the Bacchantes (Bassarids or Bacchae), after the Roman god, Bacchus.
Furthermore, Pan’s frightening sexuality creates panic in the objects of his desire, as with his long time companions, the nymphs.

Known for their nympholepsy of possession; and, equally known as theyoleptics, at times emerging as being chained to the spirit of wandering, a realm of unhappiness, that the possession of Pan’s spirit helps stimulate. They were residents of the caves, grottos, groves, and other isolated places; appropriately, there are dozens of caves sacred to the nymphs and Pan that still exist today. In addition, there are numerous art objects of them depicted inside caves starting in the fifth

century.