i decided to do a little searching on google after reading your post and although what you are saying is news to me, this is what i found:
it seems some dont think that Pan is dead at all-
The Great God Pan Is Not Dead
If one believes Greek historian Plutarch (in "The Obsolescence of Oracles" (Moralia, Book 5:17) Pan is the only Greek god who is dead. During the reign of Tiberius (A.D. 14-37), the news of Pan's death came to one Thamus, a sailor on his way to Italy by way of the island of Paxi. A divine voice hailed him across the salt water, "Thamus, are you there? When you reach Palodes, take care to proclaim that the great god Pan is dead." Which Thamus did, and the news was greeted from shore with groans and laments.
Robert Graves (The Greek Myths) suggested that the Egyptian Thamus apparently misheard Thamus Pan-megas Tethnece ('the all-great Tammuz is dead') for 'Thamus, Great Pan is dead!' Certainly, when Pausanias toured Greece about a century after Plutarch, he found Pan's shrines, sacred caves and sacred mountains still very much frequented.
quote linked here
i also came across some info that it might have something to do with the christians destroying Pans shrines and such, so i can imagine that maybe thats how he could be considered dead, when he was probably more or less forgotten.
things i couldnt find:
1. who killed pan, if infact it was another god.
2. any info related to a black box in rome, besides the obvious references to pandoras box.
any input, thoughts? dfh out.
[edit on 5-9-2004 by deafence#]
