ÆGIPAN, in Antiquity, a Denomination given to Pan, and the Pans. See PANS.
The Word is compounded of aix, aigos, Goat; as being represented with the Horns, Legs, Feet, etc. of that Animal. The Ancients also gave the Name Aegipan to a sort of Monsters mentioned by Pliny, Solinus, and Pomponius Mela, L. I. c. 8.— Saumaise, in his Notes on Solinus, takes Aegipan to have signified the same in Libya with Sylvanus among the Romans. See SYLVAN. Vossius rejects the Opinion, and shows, that the Aegipans had not Faces like Men, as the Sylvans had; but like Goats. In effect, the whole upper Part of the Body resembled that Animal; and as to the lower, they painted it with a Fish's Tail. The Monster represented on some Medals of Augustus, by Antiquities called Capricornus; appears to be the true Aegipan.
